I think I have figured it out!
I believe I am suffering from Post Race Blues.
This past week has been nothing short of pulling teeth to get myself to workout.
You’ve probably heard me moaning and complaining on twitter about trying to get myself motivated to workout!
After my 10-mile race, I felt amazing…on cloud nine and barely sore. I only had to take 1 day off for recovery, and then I was able to workout last Tuesday.
But. I. have. just. been. dragging.
I’m sure the weather is also partly to blame. We’ve had rain literally every day this past week which has kept me inside on the treadmill.
But today, after a rather tormenting workout on the treadmill, I started to wonder:
Is there such a thing as Post Race Blues or Post Race De-Motivation?
Now after my 10k race, I had oodles of motivation. I wanted to go for a run and re-experience that race ‘high’ that I felt. But since the 10 miler, I haven’t felt a big urge to run. I’m sure it has something to do with the rain, but I also think that I might be suffering from a mild case of Post Race Blues!
So of course the first thing I did when I got off the treadmill today was Google my theory. And of course, I found several articles on this very subject. The most popular term I found was ‘Post Race Depression’. I don’t like to call what I am feeling depression; although I am sure that does happen to some people! I am dealing with some major lack of motivation here!
I found an article called “Post Race Depression: How to overcome the blues after a marathon”.
The beauty about this article is that it can apply to any form of exercise or training. Many of you compete in various sports or athletic events and have probably felt the same thing. I know I used to feel post-playoff blues after our softball tournaments when the season drew to a close. And I always feel a bit blue when hockey season ends (lol)!
In the article Tyler Cash offers some ways to cope with post race blues:
1. Catch up with your family and friends
Training for a race can really deplete our time- especially if one is training for a marathon. Tyler suggests reconnecting with family and friends and painting the town red!
2. Do something else you love to do
Everyone tends to have at least a couple activities they enjoy. For me, I love hiking. The weather has been preventing me from doing so, but the next nice day I plan to get out and hike for a change of pace.
3. Maintain your level of fitness
Tyler says, “Yes, your body needs to recover from the marathon, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop exercising completely.” In the back of my mind I have been thinking, ‘I ran a 10 mile race last week so I don’t need to push it on with my workout intensity.’ While I think that is true when the body is in recovery following the race, I also think I was using this as an excuse to slack off.
4. Time heals all wounds
Tyler reminds us that this too shall pass. Soon you will be back into your normal training regime and focusing on a new goal. I have signed up for the Toronto Half Marathon as a way to encourage myself to get back into the game.
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So yes, my exercise funk will pass, as will the bad weather. It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who has gone through something like this!
With that being said, I also think that part of my de-motivation has been my body actually being more tired than normal. I don’t read many articles on lethargy following a race (it’s mostly just on muscle soreness), but I have felt quite lethargic for the past week. I’m sure a lot of it is mental, but it can’t be entirely.
Today’s question:
have you ever suffered from Post Race Blues? What what it from and how did you feel? Did it affect your normal exercise routine or motivation?
You sound like me after my half-marathon. I wrote a post very much like this and titled it the same thing! IT does take a while to get back into the swing, I think. Having another race or goal in sight definitely helps!
I think its really important to take a big break a few times a year. If I’m really not feeling it I schedule myself a running vacation and do something else when I normally would be running. Read a magazine/book, paint, write in a journal, sit outside and do nothing, etc. Then, I celebrate my back to running day when it arrives :-) Sometimes I need a break after racing or sometimes it just pops up outta nowhere. Good Luck!!
After my half marathon in may, I ran an easy 3 miles then didn’t run for a month! So yes I was burnt out and not too motivated. But it got me back into pilates and cycling!!
I know what you mean about not being motivated. It happens a lot to me too, and then I always wonder how I push myself through and motivate myself to finally get out there to do it. But, like you said “If I wasn’t exercising I would definitely gain weight” does run through my mind quite often, and it scares me enough to get out there and run!
What an interesting post! I like the idea about switching it up. Maybe try some new workout DVD’s?
YES!! i totally had what i called a “major runner’s low” after my first half marathon. i often get a “runners’ low” after a long run (5+ miles), usually because i’m tired and need a lot of food after. so i was expecting to have that after my half, but i thought it would last for a few hours after the race. instead i was on a high for the rest of the day and the next and then BAM! runner’s low. it felt like the day after christmas and i’ve had a hard time motivating myself since then (its been a few months now, ugh). so i’m signing up for a bunch of races in sept and oct (5 and 10kms) and i want to find another half before christmas so i can re-motivate myself. so you’re not alone in your post-race-blues!
Really interesting post! I’m just training for my first race, so I had no idea this could happen.
Dealing with it right now actually. Did my first triathlon, and I was so happy. I took a day off and then went right back to working out. Unfortunately most of my workouts haven’t been great, and I’ve been DRAGGING too. It’s awful. I can hardly get out of bed in the morning in time to get a decent workout. I plan on signing up for a race in a couple weeks but now I’m not so sure since I haven’t been working out like I was before. Don’t know what to do.
I’ve definitely had the post-race blues before. All that focus, dedication, and energy going toward one event…when it is over, you HAVE to come down, there doesn’t seem like there is any other way. I think this is similar to the post-wedding blues that many people (ok, mostly women) experience.
My strategy has been to set a deadline. I have a training plan ready, have a start date for it, and I don’t allow myself to postpone it. That way, if I get back into a running grove before that date, great. If not, I have a definite start date for my new cycle of running.
Good luck! I hope your funk clears soon!
I definitely have. Our coach specifically does a talk for us on post race blues as it happens to all level of athletes. Biggest thing for me is if possible, I take at least a full week off of running just to recharge and enjoy some of the free time not training allows for. Next step is to ensure I have my next race planned out AND registered for so that I can look forward to that.
This will pass, don’t worry..
I was pretty unmotivated after my triathlon a few weeks ago. I think a lot of it came from the stress I was feeling leading up to the race. I was training hard for it, but I think I spent too much time worrying about how I was going to perform. Once the race was over, I was just SO relieved that I didn’t feel like doing anything else. But it’s in my nature to set goals and challenge myself. I started secretly making biking and running goals, and before I knew it, I was back on the road training. My body was only tired for a couple days after, but my mind was exhausted for several days.
i totally get what you’re experiencing. and my “cure” would be: plan another race ASAP :-)
Wow!! This has happened to me after my last 2 half marathons. I googled it tonight because I was curious. I’m in the middle of the 2nd time its happened and the great news is that I know it will pass just like it did last time.