I waited a week after my ultra marathon to run again, although I did boot camp three days after and felt pretty good. I was afraid that I'd have knee pain if I ran, but luckily I didn't even feel a twinge. I only ran 5K, to be safe, but it was one of those 'I am so happy I am running and feeling good! I love running!' runs.
I just ran again, and I did a longer run this time - about 13K. I felt great! (The great thing about running an ultra is that any shorter distance seems just so....short.)
I'm glad I didn't push myself during the ultra marathon and really injure myself.
It has been so nice to run without a camel back and just for fun. Although....I am planning my next race.
I realized that I really did appallingly little to prepare myself for an ultramarathon. I went from 25K to 50K without even attending a running group.
For my next race, I'm definitely going to try to make even a few sessions. Other runners can share their experiences and I can see how helpful it could be.
For example, during the ultra, I saw runners going down the hills in a wavy pattern. Initially I thought that was crazy because it meant taking more steps to get down the hill. By the end of the ultra I was doing it too, because I realized it made my knee hurt less when running downhill. Knee pain is one thing on a fairly flat surface (which really doesn't exist in a trail run in any case) but downhills are killers.
Also I've heard so much about compression socks, and even just recently IT band braces. I want to do the 30K Around the Bay Race next. (I know what you're thinking...why didn't I do the 30K BEFORE I did the 50K? Good question! It's really because I love the trail running and the Around the Bay is a road race. And I wanted to do an ultra. Seize the day, as they say.) Anyway, I'm going to use my fellow runners' expertise next time.
