PMS and an Injury?! WTF.

I'm still struggling with my post-marathon schedule-- and body. Everyone I know who just completed a big race is experiencing the same issue.

I kid you not, it's called PMS- post marathon syndrome. Runner's World states that PMS symptoms include the following:

• Comparison shopping and minimizing your marathon accomplishment
• Lacking interest in setting a new goal
• Feelings of sadness, pessimism, and worthlessness
• Feeling lost without your training
• Not able to see the light through the fog

I have 4 out of 5 of the symptoms. I absolutely need and want a new goal. The rest... yup. I miss running. It's the oddest feeling I've ever had. I am craving a long run, missing the crazy structure of the training, and I keep telling people "yes, I ran a marathon. Thanks. Yes, I had fun, but I could've done better."

What? How could I have "done better" when I busted my butt during training and gave it my all when I ran?

I want to cry, eat everything in sight, run (but can't move my legs!), lash out at people-- and do it all again. Thankfully, Trainer Amy was ready for this downward spiral and set me up with a non-marathon based training plan. For the next 2 months, I will focus on strength training and weight loss. I'm hoping that getting into this new routine will push me past the PMS and steer me away from the ice cream sundae that I'm craving.

Monday: Spin + light weights
Tuesday: Run
Wednesday: Weight Training + swimming
Thursday: Short run + weight training
Friday: rest
Saturday: Short run + weight training
Sunday: longer run or rest

Of course it's one thing to have a plan, and an entirely different thing to have a goal in mind for the end of the plan.

I have a Halloween 5K tomorrow evening, and I leave for Disney Wine and Dine in a little more than a week. YAY running (and YAY wine)! However... my Achilles has been bugging me for weeks prior to the marathon. I ran through the discomfort, as it seems to loosen up and cooperate after a mile or two, especially with taking some ibuprofen. For the last 10 days, it has been SUCH a struggle to move the foot at all- but again, as I move, it feels better.  I'm icing it at night, rolling out my calves, doing heel drops... but nothing. It's aggravating, and the only "real" recovery, I'm being told, is rest and non-weight bearing activities.

So, some of those running days may disappear until I'm feeling ok. I went for a 4 mile jog last night and felt great, but Spin on Monday night was making me want to tear my ankle off of my foot, the pain was so bad.

I think my PMS, along with my Achilles, has just put me in a funk. I know I'll snap out of it sooner rather than later, but it kind of sucks. Even after I was named the November Success! story in the local Healthy and Fit Magazine yesterday, I was bummed out. I should've been on cloud none! Instead, I was aggravated and snotty to people. I don't get it. This isn't me. This isn't how I've behaved in the past 4 months. This needs to end. Now.

I set a new marathon goal- I'm going to Oklahoma City in April 2015 to run the marathon there with one of the From Fat to Finish Line guys. I don't think I'm overdoing it- 2 months of recovery/strength training, then back to my marathon training from January-race day. Then I can recover (again) and start up my training (again) for Detroit full (October) and half marathon training for the Rock and Roll Half in Vegas (November). And of course there will be other 5K, 10K and half marathons thrown in there for good measure-- like the Thirsty Three Race Series. Check this lineup out:

Hightail to Ale 5K, May 2 in Detroit
A Keg Party with a 5K Warm Up!

Running Between the Vines 5K/Half Marathon, August 16 in Jackson
A High Class Run with a High Class Finish!

Scrumpy Skedaddle 5K/10K, October 5 in Flushing
Just not Enough Skedaddles out there!

I can do this. I like long term goals. LOVE them. Crave them.  Just like I crave a good beer or wine. Or both.