Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Gettin' back on the Workout Wagon

It has been just over three weeks since I exercised for 14 hours and 56 minutes in one day. Since that day I have done a whole lot of not working out. And by that I mean I have not worked out a single time (unless you count doing 15 crunches a day a workout or dancing until 3 am) until this evening.

Instead, I have spent time traveling up and down the east coast visiting friends and having a social life. Yes, a social life. I danced. I stayed out past 3 am on more than one occasion. I slept until noon because I could. I drank entirely too much beer at one time. I tried soup dumplings in NYC (amazing!). I wore 4 inch heels. I painted my nails and blow dried my hair. It's been glorious.



I know, it's alot of beers. We were at a concert and had a great spot right in the front so we stocked up so we would not have to move. I would be lying if I said we didn't drink it all (plus perhaps a few more).



Why yes that is my Ironman jacket I am wearing while attempting to eat soup dumplings.

After 3 weeks of eating, drinking, sleeping and being lazy, I began to get antsy to hit the gym. Really antsy. I got to the gym tonight and I stared blankly at all of the machines unsure of what I felt like doing. I got on the treadmill dreading how awful running would feel. I started out slow and was surprised at how easy and effortless it felt. So I sped up. It felt SO good to be running fast. I spent a whole year running in zone 2. My first mile was right at 10 minute pace. The second mile I jumped to an 8:30 pace. By the third mile I was feeling a little daring so I pumped up the treadmill to 8.6, a 6:59 pace, and held on for dear life. I finished the third mile panting, sweating, with my heart rate through the roof and with a huge smile. That is the fastest mile of my life to date. 3 weeks after an Ironman. I like it.

I was so excited with my run that I got off the treadmill and enthusiastically did a hard weights and abs workout. It is safe to say that tomorrow I may not be able to move- and that is okay because marathon training doesn't start for a few more weeks.

And on a totally random note- This is the sign on the door of Rice to Riches- a store in NYC that only sells 35 different flavors of rice pudding. It is amazing. I told you I have done a lot of eating!





13 comments:

  1. YESSSSSSSS!!!!! SOUP DUMPLINGS, TREE and RICE TO RICHES!!
    - jw

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  2. you go girl!! Where can I get me some dumplins?

    And, I checked out that site...holy rice pudding!! Now I kinda want some...

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  3. Nice to see you enjoying something TNT isn't swim bike run for a change! Congrats on the newly found speed! Marathon training ith your base is going o be a whole nw adventure!

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  4. Hi! I'm training for my first IM (Madison).
    Did you take 3 weeks off after IM, by direction? Or was that just the amount of time your body needed to heal? I'm curious about how post IM recovery will be. And how I will feel the days following. I have friends up in Madison and I was hoping to get some fun in, the days after…but I'm not sure how my bod will be responding :)

    LOVE that sign btw.

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  5. OMG, I love that sign! I love Rice to Riches but haven't been there is years. Your post is making me want to plan a trip to NY!

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  6. 1. Post-IM fitness FTW.
    2. Wear that jacket everywhere, you earned it.
    3. I want that sign!
    4. I miss you, come back.

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  7. Thanks for the comment you left on my blog!!! And for reassuring me that I can party down after IM. Woop Woop. You da bomb!!!!!!!

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  8. Congrats on the speedy mile! Sounds like dancing, eating a lot and beer drinking are the perfect speed training.

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  9. You totally deserved the break. Keep it up through the holidays!

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  10. Glad to see you have enjoyed your break. It sounds like we both have similar plans for 2012 racing - shorter and faster :). Best of luck getting back into training!

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  11. I love that you are enjoying this time... you earned every minute (and calorie) of it! :)

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