Running while still sore from my previous run will never ever ever (yes I'm listening to Taylor Swift a lot lately) get easy.

My upper legs are not performing like I want them to. No, let me rephrase... They are just NOT performing at all. It's like someone is constantly pushing my legs back while I try to move forward. BUT it's not as bad as last week when I ran 32K on Nike Free's. The "pain" is on the outsides of my upper legs, while last week it was on the back of my upper legs. What difference a shoe can make... 

Nonetheless, I went for a quick run this afternoon. I'd been working from 7AM until 4PM straight and I just needed some fresh air. The weather was still stormy, but some rays of sunshine managed to escape the dark clouds so it was kinda OK. It's autumn, I'd better get used to this weather.

The run was OK. I wanted to run faster, but as mentioned before, it felt like someone tried to push me back. The wind didn't make it any easier and the hills (dunes) I climbed made it even harder (obviously). But I did go for a run and I even burnt 471 calories, which means I can have two Tiramisu Desserts tonight! HA!

Just kidding about the Tiramisu, of course. I actually decided that from today on I'll be back on a (semi-)healthy track. The Amsterdam marathon takes place in 26 days and I need all the energy I can possibly get.

So that means lots of veggies and fruits, lots of tea and freshly squeezed lemon water and LOTS of sleep. A little less lots of (also known as "on the prohibited-list"): Alcohol, candy, deep fried stuff and doritos. It shouldn't be that hard, I mean... I still allow myself to eat pastries, pasta and dark chocolate. Isn't that all a girl really needs?

I'm off to bed... Oui, it's only 9.30PM but it's on my "LOTS OF" list, that means I'm totally allowed to dive in. Don't you think?

Love,

Annemerel

New (Nike x Liberty) Babies

Who doesn't love this?! Bought a new pair of Nike Free's online last week. Not "just" Nike Free's, but the ones in collaboration with the English Department Store Liberty. Can't stop looking at them. All though I still feel pretty lifeless after my 35K run yesterday, I wanna run! But it's pouring and storming and obviously I don't want to ruin my new babies already (and I don't want to ruin myself  (catch a cold) either, since I'm leaving for Paris in six days! Running along the Seine... can't wait!).

Love,

Annemerel

The morning after

The only thing that'll wake me up the morning after Long-Distance-Sunday... A croissant, a sausage roll, lots of green tea and the latest episode of Glee.

It's bad. Real bad. It's not only my legs that just won't move, it's my entire body. My stomach, my fingers, my throat, my head... It feels like a bad case of the flu. I'm not sure running such insane long distances is serving my health very well.

Oh well, I suppose my body just needs some time getting used to this. Those first 25K yesterday were nothing, only two months ago I started crawling after running 20K. And back in march I didn't think I could finish that half marathon. 

It'll be OK eventually.

Love,

Annemerel

I ran 35K today

I ran 35K today. It took me three hours and thirteen minutes, so I had like three hours and thirteen minutes to THINK (since I was all by myself). A couple of thoughts that crossed my mind?

4K: OMG, this feels great, maybe I can run a marathon today. Wohooooooooooo!

6K: I feel so good, I feel so great, all I wanna do is sprrrrrint baby. Obviously, I didn't sprint. I did jump a couple of times though, swinging my arms in the air like a rock star (couldn't help it!).

10K: I'm running along the beach with the wind in my back, I don't have to do anything to move. I could do this for hours.

12K: I ran for more than one hour already? I only ran one third... 

15K: So you know what the difference is between training for a marathon and training for a half marathon?! If you train for a half marathon and someone asks you what you'll be doing on long-distance-sunday you'll say: "Well today I'll go shopping and have lunch with my friends, but first I'll go for a run." If you train for a marathon and someone asks you what you're going to do on long-distance-sunday you'll tell them that you're going for a run. Period. It not only takes (a lot of) time to run, recovery is a bitch... Just a thought....... Still 20K to go.

27K: I've been running with the wind in my face for 10K already. This is killing me. Still 8K to go.

32K: WHY DID I EVER WANTED TO RUN A MARATHON. I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ANYMORE, SOMEONE SAVE ME. I QUIT. IT'S OVER. NO I'M NOT MOVING ANY FURTHER, I WON'T. Of course I didn't give up, but trust me... I felt like crying.. My legs hurt and I had a very bad stomachache.

35K: I DID IT. But how on earth am I going to run 7,2K more in just 4 weeks?!

I'll keep you posted... of course...

Love,

Annemerel