I’d never heard of this guy. Have I been under a rock or something? (Wouldn’t be the first time.)
So, I was talking to Mom today on the phone, and I mentioned that every day lately, without fail, I get dog tired an hour after running. I go from energized and happy to “I need a nap now” in the space of minutes. What’s up with that? She suggested I was crashing from the endorphins fading. I agreed and said that it might be happening now because I’m running every day and have gotten myself thoroughly addicted to that endorphin rush. An interesting addiction to develop; withdrawal is no fun, but it’s easy enough to get another “hit.” 
(‘Spose I should find some other way to ease the crash, though; constantly running wherever I go doesn’t sound like the most healthy solution. 
Also, consuming a whole bunch of extra sugar, mindfully or otherwise, is another bad strategy. A chain of crashes is even less fun than one initial one.)
Erm…and then I sat here, nodding blandly at the screen for an embarrassing length of time, nothing else coming to mind, but without any motivation to move. Perhaps a nap really, truly is in order…if not on the slate of happy things that could possibly be arranged at present. Bah.
I’m doing this race as my first 50K/ultra in July 2012. I’m so tardy to the party but...
Carrie:
First, thank you for the cute bookmark–you are welcome for the donation! it’s a great cause!
Second, I have to nap most days that I run (I run approx. 6-8 miles at a time). I remember when my girls were the ages of your kids and I’d have afternoons where I would lie listlessly on the couch DYING for a nap while the kids played happily on top and all around me. Very vivid memories of the dog-tiredness, esp. since I ran in the mornings.
These days I hold off on my running until the afternoon (my kids are teenagers now so it’s easy to pull that off) and when I feel the run-crash coming on, I go to bed and sleep glorious sleep.
Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone in that fatigue. My husband and I call it the “I ran/showered/ate” feeling of exhaustion because it’s that combo that will get you every time.
But it’s fun, right? RIGHT!
Thanks, Melissa.
Good to know I’m not crazy! Apparently, also, Mom read something saying most women need some extra protein around three in the afternoon. I’m crashing way before that, but maybe I do need to be more diligent about protein before I get to that point.
I wish I could run in the evening; it would be convenient, some days. For some reason, I just can’t manage it! Even a few blocks kills me if I try it after 2 or 3 o’clock.
Weird.