I'd read so many articles about the post-marathon blues, I half expected to get them, but a week out from my big race, I'm feeling GOLDEN. While I'm no expert, I think these factors have contributed to my post-race glow.
1) It was my first marathon and everyone I've seen this week has congratulated me. Let's be real folks, the praise for this race is a big part of what makes it worth the AGONIZING PAIN of running 26.2 miles. I'm more proud that I survived the damn thing than anything else, plus I kept an average 10 min per mile pace which ain't too shabby for a first marathon. Additionally, a bunch of my running friends have told me how inspired they are to try a marathon or half, so now I can look forward to training with friends for future races!
2) I'm super busy. When I decided to run a marathon over the summer I had a LOT more time than I've had the past few months. My fall schedule went from packed to INSANE when I put "train for a marathon" into the mix with full time grad student, full time job, teaching an undergrad class and searching for a permanent full time position. I haven't felt the same empty space that many runners experience when training ends. I've felt relief. Enormous amounts of relief, a return to my social life, and can you say 8-9 hours of sleep every night?
3) The holidays. Thanksgiving was hectic, but it's still great to see friends and family, and the start of the Holiday season is a great distraction from well, anything. I swapped multi hour runs for christmas music and baking. Not a bad trade eh?
4) Other forms of fitness. The last month of my marathon training I was DESPERATE to mix some new fitness routines into my running but I 1) didn't have time to meet my necessary mileage and do other workouts and 2) wanted to avoid injury. Now that I don't have to hit 35-40 miles a week I can roll a spin class, strength training, yoga and dance back into my life. Yay!!
Do you get post-race blues, post race highs or both?
1) It was my first marathon and everyone I've seen this week has congratulated me. Let's be real folks, the praise for this race is a big part of what makes it worth the AGONIZING PAIN of running 26.2 miles. I'm more proud that I survived the damn thing than anything else, plus I kept an average 10 min per mile pace which ain't too shabby for a first marathon. Additionally, a bunch of my running friends have told me how inspired they are to try a marathon or half, so now I can look forward to training with friends for future races!
2) I'm super busy. When I decided to run a marathon over the summer I had a LOT more time than I've had the past few months. My fall schedule went from packed to INSANE when I put "train for a marathon" into the mix with full time grad student, full time job, teaching an undergrad class and searching for a permanent full time position. I haven't felt the same empty space that many runners experience when training ends. I've felt relief. Enormous amounts of relief, a return to my social life, and can you say 8-9 hours of sleep every night?
3) The holidays. Thanksgiving was hectic, but it's still great to see friends and family, and the start of the Holiday season is a great distraction from well, anything. I swapped multi hour runs for christmas music and baking. Not a bad trade eh?
4) Other forms of fitness. The last month of my marathon training I was DESPERATE to mix some new fitness routines into my running but I 1) didn't have time to meet my necessary mileage and do other workouts and 2) wanted to avoid injury. Now that I don't have to hit 35-40 miles a week I can roll a spin class, strength training, yoga and dance back into my life. Yay!!
Do you get post-race blues, post race highs or both?
No comments:
Post a Comment