Those five minute bars look pretty darn good. I have only raced a couple of times, so I don’t know that I can recall the way I felt after. I do go through exercise slumps, but I always get back in the swing of things eventually, and I’m sure you will, too.

Just don’t start a major kitchen remodeling project in the middle of your slump because at some point, you will want to run again, and won’t be able to because your house is turned upside down and to top it off you are unable to cook much real food for yourself which leaves you wanting to run but knowing that you’re not fueling properly and that it would probably be a bad experience anyways.

Do I win the award for longest run-on sentence in a comment? 😀

I am currently in that slump because my knee is injured:( I am bouncing back by trying as many different types of exercise as possible. Running isn’t everything and I am trying to incorporate muscle training and things I have never tried before.
3 miles really is a long ways no matter how many marathons one does!
I think I am going to have to have a salad for lunch after seeing yours!
What half-marathon are you going to do? Do you like cold weather running?

3 miles is spectacular! Celebrate every mile, pose, stretch, swim!

That salad looks awesome with the pears and balsamic reduction. Yum!!

thanks for saying this, Caitlin !! three miles is A LOT for me right now… I have run many many longer distances (races from 5 – 18k) and right now? a MILE is big for me as I return to post injury running.

respect the distance, indeed. I cannot wait until I can run 3 miles easily again! <3

I love how you share going back to shorter distances and being okay with it. I imagine that is much more realistic than diving in to long runs again right away. I know it works for some, but I bet many readers who do long distance races find comfort seeing someone else just go with the flow afterwards too.

I love that you credit 3 miles! I wrote about that in my post today and think it’s a great mindset for runners whether beginners or advanced. 🙂

No recent races for me, but I do understand about liking to have a goal and how any distance is a long distance when your body is bouncing back from something strenuous.

Looks like you’re on the right track, and lunch looks tasty.

Since I don’t run marathons, I can’t give advice based on that, but I can say that even those of us who don’t do marathons, but exercise on a regular basis go through slumps and you are right to change things up. I like doing different things like kickboxing and intervals just to change it up or I get bored. Not to mention, like you said this morning, you have to do different things or your muscles/fitness will slump. On the note of strength, have you ever done core fusion? I love it and it works you out in a completely different way.

Those bars sound delicious! I will have to give them a try!

After my marathon, I couldn’t run for 6 months! At all! Not without sharp, shooting pain in my right knee. So I too sought yoga, learned to love circuit training, and learned that lifting weights made me feel toned and strong, and did not make me feel big and bulky. And after rest, and strength training, and all that yoga, I started to run again. Little distances. Slowly. I doubt that I will ever be able to run a 4:22 marathon 🙂 (Congrats!) again, but running 3-6 miles IS a long ways. So I guess, I did what you are doing, only with weight training and circuit training added in. I think you are a stronger athlete than me though, so I bet you’ll be adding up the miles in no time!

Those no bake bars sound delicious! And I agree–3 miles is a lot!

Usually when I am in a slump I just look for another goal to focus on….. whether it is setting a PR, signing up for a distance race or a new workout schedule with an end result in mind. I like to be working towards something rather than just working out, helps me motivate!

I find since my 10km I haven’t been committed to any workout program.

Its very frustrating 🙁

Wow, those bars look great! When I’m in a post-race slump, I usually try to do some other form of exercise entirely – so that means not running. Usually I’ll spin, get on the elliptical, or the stair master –> which gets me even sweatier than running sometimes!

3 miles is far, hollah!!!
I still can’t believe you did a MARATHON, you’re crazy! 😉

I love cashews. I may need to try this recipe. Hope you have a good week caitlin!

It literally took my body a month to recover after my marathon. I didn’t run at all for the week following my marathon and from there it was a very gradual progression to get back to where I was before. I probably didn’t start feeling okay until about two weeks afterward.

Yep, running any distance is hard work and something to be proud of. Well done for listening to your body and not doing too much. Anne’s bars look delish!

Instead of running, I am struggling in yoga. I hope I can get back to some shape and peace soon 🙂 It’s all about determination.

When i get into a running slump, I go for a trail run. It’s hard to stay motivated when you are pounding the same pavement day in and day out. Running in nature reconnects me with why I love to run. Being outside in nature, the meditative aspect of listening to your breathe and cadence. Maybe it would help?

Ugh! I’m glad you posted this, sometimes I feel like a terrible runner after getting tired from a 5k! Glad to know even the pro’s feel it!

You’re totally right- 3 miles is no joke. I think sometimes we’re a little jaded in the blogger world because of all the people who are constantly in training.

As I was visiting my friends after the 15k I did this weekend, I was talking about how I was knocking my running down to maybe 3 or 4 miles at a time for a little while.

They thought I was crazy… he he he

Sorry you’re in a slump! I’m sure you’ll crave those long distance runs again soon 🙂

Way to log the miles post marathon! I agree 3 miles is long! Hopefully shorter runs and lots of yoga will heal your body up in no time!

After my first marathon a month ago I got a new job, moved across
the county, and have been traveling like a mad woman for said new job. It has been a bit of a struggle to find my “new” normal when it comes to working out and eating, and I think I need to sign up for another race to help keep me on track!

5k is hard. No matter how much I run, I still struggle with that distance.

I’m also post-race slump after running a 10k a few weeks back. It makes me feel a little off, but I’m trying to use the opportunity to catch up on all the yoga and strength training that I missed out on when I was training for the run. I’m being careful to run at least 1-2 times week anyway, so I don’t lose too much endurance. Hopefully my running mojo will come back before too long!

Thanks so much for the reminders to vote in the Amway Positivity Project. I’m happy to vote every day, but I need that reminder! 🙂