Recovery - 100 Miler

As a runner & trainer I try to push myself year on year in the endurance stakes - firstly, for personal (choosing the next word carefully) pleasure/enjoyment/challenge - although if you read my blogs it may seem sometimes far from enjoyment or pleasure, but challenging for sure, but life would be boring if we never pushed ourselves beyond whats safe & comfortable, I personally have a real need to life my life not just exist from day to day - now I guess that's getting old, you begin to realise how truly short this one life is - and if there is one area you can pursue which truly makes you come alive by taking you on a roller coaster of emotions, battering you mentally and physically, just to spit you out looking like you've been pulled through a hedge backwards in high winds, but feeling alive (only just) and strong - well that for me is endurance running.

The trainer in me wants to be the best and offer my clients the best possible training and advise - this really is my second reason for pursuing these challenges, its an opportunity to learn each time - knowledge which is invaluable when preparing my clients - and if it inspires my clients or others to take on challenges that's just awesome.

With Debbie & Fran before start of GB Challenge 1st July

This year's challenge the Centurion Grand Slam - 4 100 mile races, I am now half way, still not taking anything for granted - each 100 miler is a very long way & needs to be treated with respect, regardless of the best preparation anything can go right or wrong.

Race recovery and how the body copes is always of massive interest to me - our bodies are truly amazing (we really should look after them better) - each individual is different, but for anyone taking on multiple challenges my insight may be helpful.

Recovery from the Thames Path 100 was completely different from the recent SDW100, I'm hoping its like your first marathon, you remember barely being able to get down stairs to running multiple days without requiring a zimmer frame.

Following the TP100, movement wasn't horrendous but my feet were quite swollen for a few days, which may have been heat related, I went through a week of eating falling asleep repeats. Very much listening to my body cravings, the first days recovery seemed to require more fat into my diet and thereafter just a craving for solid nutrients ie I just wanted masses of fresh fruit & veg (on a Vegan diet, whilst most people worry about protein levels, it is actually fats which I struggle to get enough of - I only really eat good fats - most of which you would struggle to eat in large quantities)

My first speed walk was 9 days after the race and I still felt very fatigued - a further 63 miles followed prior to the SDW100 - a mixture of speed walking & running - longest just over 9 miles.

Twice weekly strength & endurance sessions in the gym, and 2 yoga sessions mixing Flex & Hot Flow - one sports massage and an awesome spa evening with Debbie - all part of the recovery plan.

GB Challenge 1st July - HOT HOT HOT 32° +

SDW100, following the initial "never again" 24 hours of intense muscle fatigue, I didn't feel too bad - no swelling, neither did I suffer the "fat hands" during the race which I put down to using the poles for the last 50. Food wise again my body seemed to want a mixture of fats & nutrients - a little and often - within 3 days energy levels had returned.

One notable occurrence on this one - a bit of a taboo subject still, but important for any females (serious lack of information out there) I got a "period" like bleed post race lasting about 5 days - its so difficult as a female to get any accurate information on how endurance running effects our hormones - so I'm 53 I said good bye to the monthly grind a few years ago - DAM tampons have gotten expensive :-) Anyhow I have had a similar incident a few years ago when I did my first multiple marathon days - my GP at the time was great in checking everything "just in case" but we came to the conclusion of adrenal fatigue, its just something to be aware of when pushing our bodies and how they cope & react.

First proper run was again 9 days post race, just gone 3 weeks post race I have run/speed walked 63 miles including a marathon last Sunday 1st July - legs felt good but the heat really got to me and in honesty the last 6 + miles were hiking over rolling trail/road Suffolk countryside! But I really would not have felt ready to do that 3 weeks on from the TP.

Very proud to be an honorary Sudbury Jogger & larger recovery advocate 😁💙🍻

Evening Spa in the first week of recovery is in my opinion a really worthwhile treat - it just totally releases the tension in muscles. Strengthening & conditions in the gym and 2 sessions a week of yoga have all resumed.

Conclusion: perhaps the body does become accustomed to the strain and adapts its self - I think the most important elements is to listen to your own body needs. For me good quality food is vital in addition to sleep and relaxation of mind & body. You really should not push yourself to run too soon, in fact the option of walking to running is (for me) best - there would be a risk of injury trying to train on fatigued muscles.

There was 5 weeks between the TP100 & SDW100 - the recovery time to the NDW100 is 8 weeks, my intentions are 3 more marathons over the coming weekends in addition to gym S&C and hot yoga - 2 weeks of just short "ticking over" leading into the NDW.

It's all still a huge learning curve TBH & recovery needs might change completely in the next few months - completely unknown territory for me - which makes it exciting & challenging.

Mentally - this challenge has already taken me beyond belt buckles & finishes - its proven to be a journey of discovery, at times a battle of mind over body and a realization of character and courage, it scares the crap out of me but I love it at the same time!

If you have gotten to this point thanks for reading :-)

Happy Running

as always much love & respect xxx

Weekend Bling thegbc.co.uk

#recovery100miler #SWD100 #Centurion #gbchallenge