Monday Morning Marathon Meet-Up: Week 4
This week was rough. Wednesday I was so exhausted that I decided to cut our run short, and Thursday I skipped my run altogether. I had yet another head cold (how is it possibly for a human being to get this many colds?!) and was just generally under the weather. Luckily, it didn’t develop into anything worse and we made it through our long run.
What I’m realizing is that I’m going to have to start being more conscious of what I’m putting in my body if I want my training to go well. Sure, cheeseburgers are great, but they’re not enough carbohydrates for the night before a long run. I need to focus on less booze and junk food and more of the nutritious, whole foods that are going to power my body through these long runs. So that will be the focus this week.
Goal: 23 miles
Actual: 19 miles
Long Run Recap:
Pre-run dinner: A phenomenal cheeseburger, an Anderson Valley Winter Solstice (Ukiah’s own!) and some ridiculous layered dessert. We went to Palena after checking out Zoo Lights. Courtney got the roasted chicken, which has been named one of D.C.’s 20 most iconic dishes. I was totally unimpressed. I found it to be a pretty standard roast chicken. Juicy, yes. But nothing special about the flavoring. The cheeseburger on the other hand totally lived up to its well-established reputation as one of the best burgers in the city, if not the nation. It’s a relatively high fat beef cooked to a perfect medium rate, with truffled cheese and garlic mayo. It was literally impossible to take a bite without garlicky, truffley, meaty juice running down your hands. Heaven.
Pre-run breakfast: English muffin with peanut butter and jelly
Hours of sleep: 8
Start time: 11am
Weather: Low 50s and sunny, perfect running weather!
Route: Down the mall to the Lincoln, across the memorial bridge, down to the trail and past Roosevelt Island, across the Key bridge and onto the Canal Trail in Georgetown, past the Kennedy Center, back up the Mall and home.
How I felt: Foggy headed and a bit tired. I cramped up a few times around miles 4 and 6. I also got hungry towards the end. Time to start carrying goo or gel chews.
Highlight of run: New scenery! I love trail running, but from our house you have to be running at least 11 miles to get there!
Injuries, aches or pains: Sore knees at the end, but again no lasting pain there. Right hip joint is sore today.
Post-run brunch: A Sweet Green salad! After an entire week of almost no greens, I was craving nothing but a great big salad.
