Post-race blues

I think I am figuring my disastrous run causes. OK, the first and most stupid was the fact that I didn't eat enough. I am somewhat better in a 50 miler (and first 50 of a 100M). The thing is, I am not a fast runner, and 50k is a bit of on a short distance for me. I go out too speedy (for me, of course, it's all relative) and get so consumed with breathing and working, I forget to swallow extra gel. I did have total of 2 bottles with Pro-Carb and 3 gels, but gels started late, and it might have not been enough for me. The "fat from thighs" didn't come to play due to speed yet again - we all know that fat conversion to energy happens at slow speed, what helps me in a longer/slower runs. Something to pound on.

Second, my compartment. OK, this is inevitable for me. I've had it for years, last year just about this time I was at the point to have surgery, but found John and his Graston technique, and slowly but surely (twice a week for 5 months) we put it to a level it almost wasn't noticeable. I kept going for preventive treatment twice a month afterward, but sue to my job loss and insurance problems stopped. SO this worries me, but not too much, it can be done again.

Hamstring. This is a biggie. I ruined it somehow at Miwok last year (end of April) and it was on and off ever since. Usually it doesn't stop me from running, but it almost always felt as nagging pain. I tried massage, Graston, rest, anti-inflammatory, ice and the whole nine yards - nothing. I changed my gait to smaller steps and worked on stretching/strengthening. Well, may be need more work.

The "pain in a butt" thing. The realization hit me today at the gym. I have very tight piriformis/gluteus medium and when I visit John, he always works on it by employing deep active release technique (simply described as digging his thumbs into my butt muscles, what hurts like hell, but has a weird masochistic pleasure in it). I had done it so many times, including the day before the race, but apparently, because I had missed 2 full months of this treatment, it made my ass sore. Now, reliving the pain at the race, it hit me - it's the same kind of "masochistic" pain at exactly same places! Well, at least this one is easy to avoid.

Now, all in all it doesn't make me much happier for how my race went. Mostly my emotions. Mike says I keep my emotions right on my shoulder and it jumps off any second. I am such a girl! Gee...I am not sure to work on that one. Most of my crying comes not from pain, but from self-doubt and self-punishing. Since it's been developing throughout my life, it's the one that most likely will not get fixed. Unless, of course, I go to a shrink:) what I won't.

Mike Burke ran a superb 4:40, and Tom Riley finished in 5:13 (woo-hoo!). Caroline had her own struggles with asthma triggered by swolloing a bug, and I heard her coughing behind (pour thing, I feel bad, but she still smiled!). The marking of the course was wonderful, even though you'd think there is only one way around the lake - Ronda and Stacey didn't have shortage of chalk and ribbons. People who worked the aid stations were all knowledgable ultrarunners and helped tremendously with words and advice, and the finish line with soup and hot dogs made my day. Love the soup!

Some stuff to think about...and hopefully learn a bit of a lesson.
Thanks to all the nice words. Happy running.
Oh, and on placing. It rarely shows how good or bad anyone is, but how good or bad a day for those around you and who came to this particular race. So I usually judge my time, not place. Though it is nice.