The Week After The Race

So the five-above-average-resting-heart-rate is not necessarily                                                  
the best teller of over-training, at least not for one runner.
Before the race, my one-week average was 45.4 beats-per-min.                                                 
My readings for the past week were: Sun(Race Day)-45,
Mon-45, Tue-45, Wed-50, Thu-48, Fri-48 and Sat-48. And                                                 
below was my experience.                                                                                           
    
I rested till Wed and ran for 40 min Thu morning. It felt
good (and surely good to brag to L) but I knew recovery                                                 
was not complete. Friday morning's run was the same distance                                                 
but felt sluggish. Nonetheless I added strength training 
during the day. My plan also included a Sat morning long run                                                 
with the Coyote gang. But that turned out to be miserable.                                                   

After the two-mile ramp-up with Karl, I joined the fast                                                      
group and teamed up with Ed. These guys kept a sub 8
(min/mile) pace on the hills and I ran out of gas within a                                                   
mile. I shouldn't because every one of my morning runs was
below 8min/mile these days. I should be able to hold out for                                                 
at least four more miles. Instead, I said goodbye to Ed there                                              
and finished the last mile alone.                                                                                         

We had kimchi fried rice for lunch after Tim's Jiu-Jitsu.
Hiking on Gazos Rd in Big Basin in the afternoon was
peaceful but painful for me as my mind was groggy and musles
sore. We spent two hours there and turned back. (Now I am
thankful for the safe drive on highway 9 in the mountains.)

I devoured 1/8 of a big watermelon and a carton of ice cream
in addition to three tortillas. Carb-binging reminded me of
my meals earlier in the week: the jjigae and beef steak
suppers were nearly carb-free. I think Jurek said runners
need carbs before, during, and after a race. This seemed to
be another lesson confirmed by my first 50k.                                                                                                

"Hi, man, felt over-trained. Will skip tomorrow. Have a good                                                 
time." I texted my friend who would have a 100-miler in two                                                  
weeks. I cancelled the plan to join him for a 16-mile hill-run
Sunday morning before Apollo strikes me down for hubris.

[7grizzly]

Thanks 暖冬 for reading and your comments.

> I always think that running Marathon is suicidal
I agree. But it doesn't seem to be the best way to do the job ;-) There are much better and quicker ways: drugs, smoking, refined carbs, inactivity, etc., etc.

> Good life begins at age 50.
True, although I don't look forward to a number. Remember what Taleb said: "those without a heroic bent start to die at 30."?

> a downhill journey
where so many inspiring people have shown us that we can be beaten but not defeated. I do look forward to it.

[暖冬cool夏]

Sorry About the capitalized letters. My cell phone has a weird self correction mode.

[暖冬cool夏]

Good you canceled the next day's race. I always think that running Marathon is suicidal, though I admire the runners. Listen to your inner call, As you said that never feel bad at all Not to be able to finish it.
My analogy to your last post is: Good life begins at age 50:) That will make you look forward to it at least:). And it is a downhill journey too. Not an easy one:) Enjoy your day!