Hi all – I’m back! I took a little blog break yesterday. I think just writing my Poconos Marathon Recap post took a lot out of me. Seriously, I’m still on a high and can’t believe I actually qualified for Boston.
I know there has been debate and discussion on other blogs about whether the women’s qualifying times are too easy, and let me just tell you that for me, I did not think getting that time was easy. I’m not an awesome runner, so maybe that does say something. Maybe I shouldn’t even have been able to qualify at all – maybe it means the time is too lenient. But let’s just say that I’m happy I qualified at this time before there is any chance they make the times tougher! Tough enough for me already!
I haven’t been taking too many photos lately, but I did document two new meals I made earlier this week that I loved!
On Monday on my day off, I got a much-needed haircut and met Hubby for a lovely lunch outside at a local cafe/bar. While we lunched, I decided that I wanted to make something different for dinner. For some reason shrimp was stuck in my head. I figured why fight it? So I stopped on the way home and picked up some frozen shrimp. I was in the mood for different, but I still wanted easy. 🙂
For dinner on Monday night I made a yummy shrimp stir-fry.
Frozen shrimp (thawed), carrots, green peppers, orange peppers, broccoli and long grain wild rice. For the stir-fry sauce, I used organic Soy Sauce, chicken stock, and a bit of Worcestershire sauce. Totally yum!
And then dessert followed:
Then Tuesday for dinner I had to use up the left-over shrimp, so I came up with this little concoction:
Shrimp and spinach sautéed and then covered with a light sauce made from white wine, lemon juice, chicken broth, garlic powder and onion powder. I placed it on a bed of spaghetti and topped it with a little Parmesan cheese. I thought this one was delicious!
All in all, I was very pleased with my shrimp creations and I think I’ll make shrimp dinners a lot more in the future. Maybe I’ll upgrade to fresh shrimp, if/when I feel more confident.
Post-Marathon Slump
So my big post-marathon confession: I haven’t run at all yet. I really just haven’t been in the mood. It probably would have helped with my recovery to loosen things up, but I was just not motivated. Plus, the yucky rainy weather hasn’t exactly been inspiring. And I haven’t been eating too great either. There may have been a bag of Hint of Lime Tostitoes that was devoured in 2 days (but Hubby did help with that).
I think it’s just my post-marathon little slump. I’m trying to get back on track today with eating. I’m meeting my friend Katie for dinner tonight and we’re going to try out Angelica Kitchen, which has been on my list to try forever. But I’m not going to put a deadline on my first post-marathon run. I’ll do it when I feel ready.
As far as how I felt after this marathon – a little bit more sore than after my first marathon. I probably didn’t stretch quite as well though, since we wanted to hop in the car and head home very soon after the race. I did wake up on Monday night at 1:00 a.m. and rolled my legs with my Marathon Stick. They felt so tight and achy, but after a few minutes of rolling they felt 10 times better. Walking down stairs hurt a bit on Monday and Tuesday, but today everything feels almost 100% back to normal.
If you’re a marathoner – do you encounter anything like my post-marathon slump? I’m not lazy by nature, but I just feel like such a schlub right now. How long do you rest after a marathon?
Anyway – thanks again all for the congrats about qualifying! I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support, encouragement, advice and words of wisdom! Have a great hump day!
Eat, Read, Run 
Those pictures looks so good. I think they give you real good energy for marathon!
I loved reading the recap! You are definitely not a schlub- I don’t have marathon experience but I would think your legs would be crying for a break! Take some much needed rest 🙂
One of these days we have to get together and meet in real life! Are you planning any trips upstate? Oh and are you running the boilermaker? 🙂
Congrats again- YAY!
Thank you! I’m definitely trying not to beat myself up about taking a little break.
Yes – we must meet at some point soon! I am coming up for Memorial Day weekend. I am planning on camping at a friend’s camp on Saturday day-night, but then two of my girlfriends and I were talking about going to see Sex and the City 2 on Sunday night. Those are the only plans I have now. Maybe we could meet up Sunday night (you are totally invited to come to the movie with us!) or we could meet for a run on Monday?
And yes, I am most definitely running the Boilermaker! So if all else fails, we can hang out and have a beer together after that race. 🙂
I always have a bit of post-marathon let-down. I say go with it for right now; it’s what your body and mind both need. Then when you return, you’ll be fresher and ready to go.
Congrats again!
Thank you! It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one with some minor post-marathon blues. So much build up and then it feels like the race takes forever, but really it’s over so fast!
I haven’t done a marathon but after my fitness competition I definitely lacked motivation and it took some time to get it back. I felt so used to “having” to workout it took awhile to realign my thoughts with now working out because I enjoy it instead of as a requirement.
And your time was awesome. There is nothing “too easy” about it at all in my mind.
Thanks! Yes – it’s kind of like I don’t know what to do with myself with not HAVING to squeeze in my training runs. Now it will just be running for fun and for me – it could be a nice change.
after my BQ in december i took TEN days completely off and didnt do ANYTHING 🙂 it was wonderful. i ate whatever, napped, was lazy and it was great. i think after putting ourselves through so much training and then the race, not to mention the mental pressure/struggles, it is good to take a break. AND when you get to celebrate your BQ that is just the cherry on top.
I just re-read your BQ race report – I hadn’t even realized that our qualifying times were sooo close! I hope I’ll see you in Boston!
And I am totally following your lead and taking off as much time as necessary – maybe even 10 days if I feel like it! Plus, when I finally go out for that first run it will be so exciting and I will have really missed it! That race was definitely a physical, but hugely mental challenge for me as well.
First off I DO NOT THINK A 3:40 is EASY! You rock! Own it! 🙂 Also I think the post marathon slump is totally true! I went through it. It is hard to realie that something you have poured so much training and work into is over! I took an entire week off from running and then I followed a 4 week post marathon running program. It is posted on my blog under the tab how I run if you are interested!
You write a good race report! YES, I experience post-marathon blues after each of my marathons. In fact, I am 15 days post-marathon, and find that it really does hit you in different ways each time. It’s a form of withdrawal, actually, from the endorphins normally coursing through your system. It took 13 days to get back on the road after my first one, but it’s only taken 3 days after this one, my fourth marathon. YOU ARE NOT BEING A SCHLUB– that’s the withdrawal talking. It craves adrenaline.