In the meantime, the in-between time -

I'm nearly recovered from racing a week ago, and am out looking to bolster my self-esteem and get a little endorphine high.

http://cercor.oxfordjournals.org/content/18/11/2523.abstract

I plan to race first at the Raleigh City of Oaks Half-Marathon in about three weeks. I feel that I'll be recovered completely soon, and will still have all of my marathon training fitness intact, so that I can make a run at a decent time and maybe some cash money.

Here's some ideas about all this long-distance racing -

I feel my body has adapted well enough from high mileage that I can recover in most ways quicker than most. Currently that's held true, as recent runs have felt very strong in all ways, except for leftover soreness and pain in the major leg muscles. I'm taking what I feel to be a very economical approach in using all the training I did for Chicago and milking it for a couple more races, before taking a little time of in late December. I however run the risk of pushing it a little to far and wearing out, but I think since my Chicago training was only specifically self-destructive for two months, my body should be resilient enough to hand a little more before organizing to mutiny.

Here's some races:

COO 1/2 Marathon - 11/7

some 5k in Cary - early December (free shoes FTW)

USATF Club Meet in Charlotte - 12/11

I'd also like to throw in some trail races in order to get more adept at that discipline, and because I like to run on trails, especially in the southern version of winter.