So now what? What’s next? You just finished the marathon after four long months of training. You are elated it’s over but you also have a hollow feeling on the inside. Maybe you just finished an exhausting but rewarding season. You are relieved it’s over but yet why that funny feeling in the pit of your stomach?
If you have ever put a good amount of time into training for an event or into a team, you can relate to this emptiness. Our bodies grow so accustomed to the routine and the emotions we experience that in the end it often leaves us feeling like the day AFTER Christmas. Everyday gets us closer to our goal and our anticipation increases rapidly. Finally the big day is here and in the blink of an eye it’s gone.
How do we get over this so that we don’t fall into post-event blues? Some of us may choose ways to relax and recuperate while others may plunge back into training with a new goal. For example, Dean Karnazes after completing his 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days had that feeling inside. What did he do? He laced up his shoes and throughout many days ran from New York City to Missouri before finally running the post-event blues away.
While Dean’s actions may have been to the extreme, we all have ways that have worked for us. I have listed several suggestions that have worked for me. I would like to hear from you as well. If you have experienced this feeling, what have you done to help get over it?
- Find a new goal or race.
- Throw yourself into those things you have neglected while you were so preoccupied training, like catching up with family and friends, or reading a book that you haven’t had time to read
- Take up a new hobby as your body is recovering. For example, after one of my marathons, I was introduced to hiking. It was a great avenue for me to still be active outside and yet let me body recuperate.
- Treat yourself- whether it’s the food you haven’t let yourself have, or a massage, or buying yourself something new. I love to let myself splurge on things I cut back on during the training, like cookies and brownies.
- Write a blog during the training/season and then refer to it afterwards. It keeps the memories fresh and alive.
- Take a vacation – somewhere you can kick your feet up and relax.