I suffer terribly from past race blues.
I find the build-up to an event becomes a way of life, with focus being on this one simple
goal. There is a clear plan of how I am going to get there – sometimes this plan includes
sacrificing some fun things. The plan also often includes friends and family.
I love training – most of my runs and cross training sessions are done with friends – I
consider my training time as my opportunity to socialise. An opportunity to meet new
people. The longer runs are magical. Time to talk about dreams; work; family and food (of
course ☺). They are equivalent to therapy sessions.
Then there is the euphoria that comes with the hard sessions; the realisation of how much
you are improving and how amazing your body is. There is a tingle in the air as you get
closer to an event…a little fear, a little apprehension; the real sense of immanent
achievement.
The week before is exciting and sometimes just darn right scary. But in your head you know
you ready – you have followed the plan; you have made the sacrifices.
Then race day arrives: I find this quite exhilarating. The day that you have worked so hard
for has arrived. This is the brief stop in the journey that I have been waiting for. No matter
the outcome; lessons will be learnt and there will be personal growth.
And then……in the matter of a few hours….it is complete. Whether the goal is achieved or
not. It is done!
What now – what happens tomorrow when I wake up and I mustn’t run. I must rest…for a
FEW days. Life changes with the realisation that the therapy sessions aren’t going to
happen anymore. No one will be asking how the training is going. During those few days,
post-race day – there is no socialising during training sessions. It can feel like a very lonely
place.
If the race day didn’t pan out to plan – this can be even more depressing. The thoughts of
not training hard enough, not being good enough can really bog me down.
To mitigate these blues I have come up with a plan – I no longer view my races/events as
goals. I view them as stops on my journey. My journey is the journey of life I suppose, with
stops planned/unplanned along the way.
Sometimes the stop is an amazing ocean swim with friends, or an obstacle race (just for
fun); it may be taking someone through their first ultra and in some instances these stops
are to run a 100miler.
Each stop is completely unique and shapes my journey of life. I try and have stops planned
in advance, after significant events to make sure that I don’t feel lost and blue. This gives
life after the race/event/stop, meaning – it makes sure there is a constant sense of purpose.
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