Post Marathon Blues

Posted by Betsy on January 16, 2004:

I just finished my 1st marathon. While I am proud that I finished I feel sad. I have been distant not wanting to talk much to the people around me. I have read of people that after a marathon seem to loose interest in running. I do not in any way feel that way I am looking forward to running again. What’s up this? Anyone have any words of wisdom?

Posted by Gary on January 16, 2004:

In Reply to: post marathon blues posted by Betsy on January 16, 2004:

Betsy

This is very common. After spending weeks and months preparing for something and then achieving it, it is very normal to feel sad. One thing that may help is go out and run without any pressure about pace or distance covered. Just run for the joy of movement. The goals and joy will soon follow. I use the post marathon period as a time to run in a very pure sense where distance/time doesn't matter. Use it as a recharge time, and yes post marathon blues are real, we all feel them.

Posted by Eve on January 19, 2004:
In Reply to: post marathon blues posted by Betsy on January 16, 2004:

Betsy,

I guess I have to thank you for making me clarify my own thought. I've only completed 3 marathons. I don't regard this as "wisdom", but food for thought.

I feel marathon running is very personal. You may be running with others, but the only way to achieve it is to dig deep within yourself. Through months of training you become motivationally self sufficient while you set mini goals and are "fed" by meeting them. For four months you become a separate entity from those around you engrossed in this one event. It becomes the silent thought or action which precedes every other thought or action. It has to be ...marathoning is extremely difficult and it requires your undivided attention. You become an "island". You try to stay as involved with the people around you, but really you are taking a leave of absence from "normal life". Then, if you are not surrounded by Crazy Crows keeping the "hype" going after the finish line, ....then what? What a let down. How can so much effort seemingly fade away in a matter of days? What's next? What can we do with all that mental training? Oddly enough, the time which requires as much support as any is after the party is over.

I've found that an adjustment period is necessary. My body needs to rest, I've now lost my obsession, and many around me who have never run a marathon don't "get it". It can be lonely transitioning back into having common goals with others ...almost like coming home after a world wide tour.

All I can say, Betsy, is that you've been someplace that not everyone gets the opportunity

to go. We know how hard it was to get there. We know the monumental effort it took. You should wear your "blues" like a badge of courage because this might be the only time to do that. Next time, and I'm sure there will be one, I expect you will understand yourself better and avoid some pitfalls. I feel like I've only just begun to explore. Good luck. I'm just about to sign up for MDI ...How about you?

Posted by Jessica on January 21, 2004:
In Reply to: post marathon blues posted by Betsy on January 16, 2004:

Betsy-

May I say congratulations on finishing your first marathon! I also recently finished my first, and what I thought for a while after would be my only. I absolutley believe in the "marathon blues" and feel that I'm just now recuperating from that. It's taken me since October to actually get back that motivation to want to run again and possibly enjoy it at a competitive level. I think Eve and Gary pretty much covered everything, but I just wanted to say hang in there. You'll get back into it, and you never know, now that you've mastered the marathon, you might end up running ultras! But definitely running again!