Lessons learned from a marathon

I am still on my runner's high! I am feeling great- except for my legs and feet... As I reflect on the marathon, I have a few nuggets of wisdom I am taking away from the experience.

1. Clip your toenails BEFORE you run the marathon. I KNEW this, but I forgot my clippers, and forgot to buy some. Let me say, my toenails hurt the worst out of everything! Hurt so bad!

2. Buy shoes half a size bigger. See #1 for explanation

3. Bring MORE food than you normally eat with you. I was hungry a whole mile earlier than normal. If it weren't for the oranges every mile, I would have STARVED!

4. A short EASY run a couple of days after can help to loosen your legs up. After a horrible parent meeting yesterday, I had some pent up anger I needed to release. I went for a run. Can't say it was a slow or easy run, but it actually felt better -once I stopped hobbling around mile 3.

5. REST. REST. REST. Went for another run tonight. Hip still hurts. Toes are killing me now. Resting now... at least for the weekend.

6. Wear your bib on your shirt. It got hot. We took our shirts with our bibs on them off. We don't have any pictures taken of us from the run because they didn't have our bib # to identify us. Sad. Although I probably would've looked horrible.

7. It's really cathartic to sing out loud to your music while running. Did this as I was coming to the finish line. Signing DavidCrodwderBand's Amazing Grace. I know I sounded terrible, but I felt great! Tried it again yesterday, it was great again!

8. You can eat a celebratory brownie the NIGHT after you run the marathon, but your body won't continue to burn off 2600 calories everyday after the marathon and you must stop eating the brownies! Seriously! I am probably the ONLY person in the world who runs a marathon and GAINS weight! My body hates me!

There are probably more lessons learned, but those are the main ones. I am going to try to rest and allow my body to recover for a few days. It is really hard because I see runners and feel guilty for not running. Reprogramming my brain after training for so long, is really hard. It was weird to think about a weekend run and NOT have a plan for mileage. I have another race coming up in a month, so I have something to train for, but it's not the same. I may be looking for another marathon sooner than I thought.

I think I am sick in the head.