It's not just about physical recovery

Published on October 22, 2021 at 3:52 PM

I felt it for the first time after my first 125 km race 2 years ago. I finished the race, rode the highs and then BAM a week later I felt restless, anxious and empty that my goal for the season was over. I felt emotionally hung over. I’d rode this intense high, pushed up in a wave of endorphins and then boom I was drowning in a tidal of come down emotion. However, with another event on the horizon the negative feelings didn’t stick around for long before I was fired up and excited for the next race in line. But, I knew ‘Post Run Blues’ were real and so in the back of my mind nearing the end of this summer I anticipated how I might feel finishing up my 3rd race of the Triple heading into Fall, a time of rest and recovery and, likely a time when I’d feel a few shades of blue (which certainly made their royal blue appearance just over a week post race).

The Triple event had been all I could think about for months on end. ‘Months on end’ being an understatement, let’s say it was on my mind daily for years (Since I did sign up on New Years Eve of 2019-20). The anticipation of the 3 events had been the main focus of my recent life. I’d invested time into myself, training and building and not once had I felt guilty for selfishly pouring energy into something I love. So many people preach about how we should invest time into our passions as often as we can and honestly, I took that on. I became the preacher! I absolutely LOVE training. I love watching myself get stronger, quicker and more durable. I love entering a new monthly build, working on a certain area which takes me closer to achieving my goal physically and mentally. I just love pouring my heart & soul into something I have so much drive for, it’s really something special. In the back of my mind though I knew this particular goal had 3 finish lines and I knew deep down once the final one was crossed an aftermath of emotion would hit me.

Luckily I run long distances which means If I want to think, I have lots of time too and although I vaguely remember thinking about anything in particular during Black Spur, I do remember telling myself that when I crossed the finish line and rode out the highs, I had to go easy on myself when I came down from the endorphin hit and work hard to recover not just physically but mentally. Whilst it’s easy for people to congratulate and get back to their daily routine, for me, this particular part of my life was check marked and I wasn’t waking up the next day with the drive and determination to get up, and get going to put in the work to achieve my goal, my goal was complete.

A race (when taken seriously) is so much more than a day out on the trails. It’s a process from training through to race day through to recovery and as I’ve started to feel more like myself I want to share how I’ve dealt with my own post run blues:

  1. Taking each day as it comes.

Some days I’ve woken up stoked to go outside and be active, whether that be running, biking, hiking… other days I’ve got home from work and had little to no motivation. Younger me would beat myself up over the latter and drag myself out not wanting to waste any moments of fresh air and movement but, likely not enjoying it, burning myself out and feeling even more tired and deflated. So, I’ve taken each day as it comes. I’ve moved when I have wanted to and I’ve backed off when it’s been needed and not for one second have I felt guilty for more than 2-3 days of rest in a single week period. If anything it’s made me feel refreshed and happier.

  1. Nurturing my body.

A week after Black Spur I ate all of the things. I deserved it. But, as a week or 2 passed I needed to feed my body as well as my mind and A&W, Pizza and Bottomless chip bags were not the answer. I have taken more time to eat healthy home cooked foods (even if that means spending extra time in the kitchen, a place I don’t overly love). In addition, nurturing has extended to more long baths, extra massages (Thank you Back at It) and additional yoga. My physio told me our bodies take a lot of adapting to structure but, they equally take a lot of adapting going back into a regular ‘leisurely pace’ and more stretching, deep tissue massage and relaxation is often needed (Even if the activity load isn’t necessarily loaded). Honestly, I couldn’t agree more with him, I’ve spent more mornings waking up feeling stiff when the activity has been very recreational than I have during an intense training period. I’ve really digged deep into listening to my body and understanding what it needs.

  1. Thinking about ‘What’s next’ but, not overly thinking about ‘What’s next’

When we accomplish big things people around us tend to ask this question as if we’re chasing never ending goals. Usually the moment I cross a finish line I’m already asking myself that question. This time round though I’ve tried not to get to hung up on this. If I’m being honest, I do have another goal in sight but, it’s not something I quickly thought of in a fleeing moment of ‘Oh my gosh, I need to focus on something for my life to make sense’. It’s okay to not have an answer to ‘What’s next?’ and I genuinely believe we shouldn’t be moving on from our accomplished goals so quickly. I might be signed up to a race in 2022 but, the focus and work it will take to achieve that goal has not started yet and I am not fixating that I am losing or ‘wasting time’ either. I am still reliving the memories of this past summer and enjoying the here and now.

  1. Rest period means a rest period

For me, if I am on a rest period, I’m on a rest period. I don’t need to be thinking about structured training or being harsh on myself for not running X amount of KM’s or spending hours outside. I’ve had a few aches and pains in my knee bursa’s and I want to be strong and healthy leading into a new build come January so for me, my focus is to rectify those aches and pains I am feeling and to listen, carefully to what my body is telling me. When my mind drifts into a negative state of ‘FOMO’ I pinch myself back into reality of ‘There is no FOMO. Look what you have accomplished and look what you have set yourself up to accomplish next year, this period of down time is needed to sustain the love for this sport to keep getting after it year after year”.

  1. Making time for other areas of life

Volunteering, picking up a book, starting a new Netflix show, fancy dinners, drinks with girlfriends, long face time with my fam, extra long coffee in bed… When I am working full time, putting in over time and then training, any additional spare time is spent getting other areas of ‘day to day’ life done. There’s not a lot of free time on the schedule to do, well, whatever the f*** I want. It’s nice to have free time that isn’t tainted with ‘Sorry I have to train’ or, ‘Sorry I have to sleep as I have to train tomorrow’. Don’t get me wrong I love training but, it’s been nice to be a lady of leisure with a open diary of ‘yes that date totally works’.

  1. Reflection

Time away from structure and training has been unmotivating at times but, each week it’s giving me more drive. I know when I am rested and recovered I have mental clarity and energy to give more to running. I’ve also been looking back at how I can train smarter and race harder. I love reflecting and I really enjoy pushing my own limits. Every race is a unique, personal stepping stone. Reflection is part of the process of being able to move forward and progress in this sport. I am trying not to fixate on the past but, instead to reflect lightly in areas I could have done better.

  1. Running – for the absolute love of it

When my knee pain has subsided I’ve been out running. I’ve been heading out onto familiar and new trails with one thing in mind; to run. Not for distance, time, pace or heart rate analysis. Simply running. Running for the absolute love of it. Taking it back to the main reason why I decided I wanted to take my body to extremes in the first place as I love to run and spend time outside in beautiful places covering as much distance as my body and mind will allow me to.

I’m not going to lie, none of the above is as satisfying as showing up daily and training hard for goals and it’s hard to truly enjoy an extended recovery period. Each day can feel different. But, recovery after a large personal accomplishment is very important not just for our physical health but for our mental health too 🙂 I truly believe if you feel any form of post race blues it’s because you showed up and poured heart and soul into the thing that you love. Feeling a sense of loss or depletion afterward is evidence that you gave it your all! 🙂

Create Your Own Website With Webador