5 Things to Remember Post Relay

I’m back from running Hood to Coast with Nuun Hydration and I have to say I learned a LOT from the people I met and the experiences I had. Needless to say, the women that made up the #NuunHTC teams were inspiring, challenging, and knowledgeable. I will share some of what I learned and what happened on this runcation adventure this week. There will be a ton of great photos and video…and I have a new song to record.

For now, as I battle my relay hangover, readjusting bowels, swollen feet, and heading back to my real job, I will simply say that there are 5 things I should remember today:

1. Eat wisely. With a slew of diet sins and the digestive issues that come with a long distance relay, I need to cleanse and eat carefully. Also, Nuun Lemon Tea + Tangerine Lime All Day is saving my life right now. The fizziness is just what I need. I have to be careful of too much acidity and return to real, whole, fresh foods. No more beer or sugar. Vacation eating is over (but it was kind of worth it).
2. Put your filter back on. Just because I’ve spent the last several days with a bunch of other female runners who are not phased by the aforementioned digestive issues and other run-related/bodily-fluid problems, does not mean that I should mention how I nearly shit my pants to my boss.
3. Don’t honk and drive. The runners I see on my way to work are not in a relay. Do not honk and yell at them. As much as I really want to support and encourage them, I might really scare or anger them.
4. Pick a few good stories. Along with a filter, it’s good to remember that co-workers and some friends don’t need to hear the harrowing stories of the relay. They’re not runners. If they cared they’d read my blog. I’d probably just turn them off from the idea of running if I told them everything. So pick a few positive and exciting stories to mention in the break room and keep them short and sweet.
5. Focus on new goals. I already knew what my next big thing was going to be going into this, which is helpful. Why? While I want to savor the flavor of everything that Nuun Hydration did for us the past 5 days, I can’t let myself get stuck in bummerville, wallowing in post-race blues. I’ve got to move forward, celebrate what is done and use it as fuel for what is to come!