I rarely do reruns of earlier posts, but since we are smack in the middle of all the big fall marathons, I thought I’d share a post I ran a couple of years back after having finished up the Richmond Marathon. Enjoy!
Post marathon is a great time to try new things while you recover
1. Thou shall take a moment to be proud, even if you aren’t happy with your time
2. In the first week post-marathon, thou shall not run with friends who did not run the marathon–their pace will be more than you need right now. In fact, not running at all for one week is not a bad idea!
3. Thou shall hit snooze if that’s what you feel like doing–better yet, turn off the alarm all together!
4. Thou shall not run speedwork (hopefully for a good few weeks!)
5. Thou shall cross train if thou wants
6. Thou shall indulge in favorite treats for a day or two, then get back to normal. You’re not exercising all that much right now–don’t pack on unwanted pounds!
7. Thou shall not bore non-runner friends with the endless details of your 26.2
8. Thou shall not wear your medal to work, book club, the gym, your kids’ school, etc.
9. Thou shall refrain from signing up for the next marathon until you’ve had time to come back down to earth and reality
10. Thou shall take inventory of what worked, what didn’t, and learn those lessons for the future
What are your rules of recovery?
These are great! I’ll need to read this again after CIM
GreenGirlRunning recently posted..Real Farm Fresh Eggs & Back To Running
I didn’t know it was in poor taste to wear your medal around everywhere. Oops – that’s why people have been looking at me strangely. Did I tell you I’ve run a marathon – back in 2010?
Char recently posted..Another Awesome Thursday
Great commandments! I’ll have to remember this when I finally cross the finish line.
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..A Month of #YogaADay
Oh, how true these are! Although I gotta admit. Sometimes I wish I could have worn my medal around everywhere.
Tina @ Best Body Fitness recently posted..Scenes from the Week
Love these, especially number 1! I think you covered all my rules pretty well!
Abby @ Change of Pace recently posted..Halloween & first ski
I wear my medal out to the post race meal then sadly hang it on a light fixture in my bathroom (???)
The one rule I break is the one of not boring my friends with my tales of pavement pounding. BUT: they talk an awful lot about their kids afterschool activities and as exciting as THAT is I think my marathon talk evens us up!
Middleaged Runner recently posted..Great Pumpkin 10K!
Take a moment to be proud!
Kierston recently posted..1 Day Out: The Last Competition Of The Season!
Those are funny! I just did my first marathon with friends who were also doing their firsts and one of them signed up for the next one the next day! Pretty funny that’s on your commandments. I did try to wear my medal to work for “costume day” saying I was a marathoner. They told me I was so lame!
lauriewalksfast recently posted..Three Things Thursday
Love these. I think I fail the talking about it commandment. I don’t stop talking about my races for weeks. I guess I am probably boring a lot of people.
Robin recently posted..Racing Too Much
Oh the medals! I ran marine corps last weekend and onmy flight home there were four people wearing the shirts and one guy in business attire wearing his medal. What else could I do? I pinned on my bib and showed them all up!
Nice list – I would just add to listen to what your body tells you.
Kovas – Midwest Multisport Life recently posted..How To Pick Up a Girl at the Gym
Great list!! I think a lot of people struggle with #9 – it’s easy to go sign up for another one right away… although that wasn’t my experience. I knew I needed some time.
Laura recently posted..October Recap and Pumpkin Tofu Pie
I have to say I did wear my medal on the airplane after my first marathon. Really, I did. I figured I had earned it and everyone else would just have to deal with it.
Fun post!!
Shut Up and Run recently posted..Ups and Downs
Those sound like great rules to me! I do wear my medal home (most of the time) and then that’s it.
Robin recently posted..5 Peaks Season Championships
Yeah, um. I totally failed at #9.
Great list!
Mandy recently posted..Three Things Thursday
These are great- thanks for re-posting this! I especially like #1, I need to work on that one.
Tasha @ Healthy Diva recently posted..Friday Favorites: Runner Swag Swap
Hanging them on my frig!
LisaM@RunWiki recently posted..Riding the Waves of Pain
Great list – love #7 and 8
Michelle @ Running with Attitude recently posted..Saucony Triumph 10 Review
I can’t tell you how much I needed to read this. Thank you soo much for reposting this!!!
Jose recently posted..Post Marathon Depression
Great post! I will need to revisit it after my first marathon – exactly one month from today!
Loved these tips – especially since I just ran my first marathon!
Gina @ Noshing on Asphalt recently posted..Marine Corps Marathon Race Recap
Haha! I love this! I especially love #6!
Colleen recently posted..My First Vlog and Challenge #2!
I think you can rule out #7 and #9 because the rush of accomplishment will carry you away, and your discretion, too!
Totally cool to take some time after a race to vegetate, recline on the couch, eat crap and zone out. But only a day or two. Then it’s back to work, even if you start back slowly as to accommodate a beat-up body.
Jonathan Aluzas recently posted..Fitness for a Lifetime: Don’t Forget to Turn YOUR Clock Back!
Thou shall spill extra attention onto kids and husband who put up with a missing mommy during marathon training.
Run with Jess recently posted..Friday Five
These are so great and so true!! Especially the one about not signing up for your next marathon until you’ve returned to reality. And wearing the race medal everywhere too!! I think that they should hand this out to folk in their race packets.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..October #YogaADay Photo Challenge
Great commandments! I’m pretty sure I do #7 and want to do #6
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Fitness Friday || October In Review
These is adorable, and true! I definitely need a week off of running after races!
Alyssa recently posted..Mini Goal Monday
Great list! Though #7 and #9 are nigh impossible and #8 is pretty difficult to follow as well. Because signing up for 50k seems like a brilliant idea the night after a marathon.
Ama Runs recently posted..Craving the Morn
I totally wear my medal to work, and in the shower, and to the grocery store…Just kidding. I generally don’t care about the hardware, but I will say after this past marathon I wanted my medal (though I gave to my kids). I think I was proud…
Katie recently posted..Marathon Training