33 Days - Then and Now

Tuesday, March 17th - 33 Days to Marathon Monday

Temp: 45 degrees

Distance: 6 miles

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Outdoor run today along the Charles River path. It was one of the first "pleasant" runs since early on in the training. Perfect temp for a run, partly sunny, minimal wind, and NO snow, rain, or black ice.

I was thinking during my run about about running a marathon at 40 vs. running at 24, when I ran Chicago. 16 years later, I think I still have the same running energy level, and my mile times are the same if not a little faster. As a runner, I don't feel any different which I think is awesome. So far "aging" hasn't caught up with me physically, and for that I'm thankful!

What is different and what I think makes it a little tougher is the responsibility of my family and my career, which means less time to relax and recover from long runs, which means I'm feeling a little more tired as the training schedule hits a high point. I feel the same DURING the long runs as I did 16 years ago, but I'm a little more tired AFTER. Back in the day when I was 24 I could do a long 16-18 mile run on the weekend and then come home, take a long bath, and sit out the couch for the rest of the weekend if I wanted to. I had time to recover. Now when I get home from a long run I have maybe 5 minutes to shower before I get attacked by my kids and all the things we do as a family together on the weekends. It's really hard to run 16 miles and then come home and chase a 2 year old boy who probably runs the equivalent of a full marathon in our house every day! Back in the day, during the week for the 6-12 mile runs, there were no lunches to pack, toys to clean, mini clothes to iron.... All I had to do was take care of myself and go to bed. Wow it seems so easy, why didn't I do so much more with all that free time?? Ha. Anyways, all of the things I "have" to do now are ALL good things and I don't want it to sound like I'm complaining. It's ok that it's harder to recover, that means I'm lucky. I chose to run at 40 knowing full well that I wouldn't have the luxury of long recoveries. Back in the day when I was 24 and I had the luxury of long recoveries, I didn't have the blessing of a house, husband, and kids who I love.

40 is the new 26.2!!!