Races Like a Girl

And I’m not talking about running fitness. I’m talking, of course, about drinking fitness.

Since I’ve been watching the calories to keep from becoming even more manatee-like during these weeks of post-race recovery, I had not a drop of alcohol all week. Until last night. I thought I was being restrained: two sets of a beer and a vodka shot (a trashy favorite of mine; Yuengling and Svedka, if you must know). I thought I’d be fine.

Woke up at 4:30 with a raging headache. I managed to get back to sleep until about 8:00, but felt like warmed over Alpo. I was surprised — I’m a complete lightweight after a mere week!

Since I had a 10 mile run scheduled for this morning, I forced myself out the door at 10:30 and, lo, it was good. I managed an 8:29 pace at 80% max heart rate. Over a somewhat hilly course, no less.

I still have a headache, but I feel much better than I did a few hours ago. Honestly, if you can get your head out of the toilet and your ass out on the road, a good run does wonders for a hangover.

I’m planning to go out and watch the NYC marathon from the sidelines tomorrow. I’ve never actually “spectated” a marathon before, so I’m curious. It’s also probably the best assemblage of elite women in the race’s history. How can I sit at home and miss seeing them fly by live? I’m going to hang out in the Bronx near the Willis Avenue Bridge: Mile 20, aka “The Wall”. Since this is the point in the race where a runner’s fate over the remaining miles becomes most evident, I’m hoping it will offer a dramatic vantage point, both for watching the elite men and women as well as the “Joe the Runners” who will follow them. If I get some good snaps, I’ll post them here.

Filed under: central park, drinking, elites |