Standard Post Marathon Blues? (Read 659 times)

I don't know what is wrong with me. I always figured when I had post marathon blues it was for a legitimate reason such as injury, unmet goals, etc. This time though I'm two days out from my race having met or exceeded every goal I set and... I'm not happy. Instead I feel incredibly confused and ungrateful. I always figured that qualifying for Boston would be the biggest moment in my running life. I thought about it, dreamt about it, prayed about it. But even though it was something I was training for, I could never quite wrap my head around the idea that it could really happen for me. In my mind, it was this awesome goal but something only other people accomplished. Maybe I built it up too much for myself? Last Sunday I BQed with a time just over 3:37. Previous to the race it was a time I didn't ever even DREAM of, much less think could really happen. So why do I feel so underwhelmed? It's bizarre. I feel so incredibly ungrateful--like now I've reached this goal and suddenly it's not enough. And if it's not enough, what is? Do normal people meet their goals and then immediately decide they need a different goal and that the previous one wasn't good enough? I mean, what the heck is wrong with me!?!?!?! I haven't posted on the boards in ages but I don't really have a whole lot of people I can talk to about this. I don't dare say anything to my DH about my sudden feelings of ambivalence towards a goal that was, just a few short days ago, my sole motivation in life. Has anyone else ever felt this way? Is it just standard issue post race blues? Do I maybe just need a good butt kicking?

Chased!! WOW, that's an awesome time. Woot! Woot! Well done. I am sorry to hear you have post race blues, had them myself. Usuallly hits about 1 week after the marathon when people eyes start glossing over when I talk about my race. Yes you need a kick in the butt because that is such an awesome time and you haven't emailed in ages! Seriously all that running, then rest does a number on our hormones and I would chalk it up to that. But you do need to recover now, and while we blocked the idea out that there is a life beyond running during training (how else could I run 22 miles tonight when I could be frazzled by my kids) it is good to put some balance back into the schedule. Time to do something relaxing for you like getting a massage or go shopping for non-running clothes. You should also start planning your next race. E.g. You could run Boston and then Fargo with me in May! Send me an email!

Nothing at all is wrong with you! You did a very cool thing... something you've built up in your head for a long time... and then you got there. Sometimes the goal itself can be anti-climactic . This can be reinforced by the fact that you probably didn't get a huge trophy nor fireworks nor broken tape at the end of your great run. People finished in front of you, others behind you. You put in the training and you had a great day... mostly because you put in the training. And you pushed for slightly over 3 1/2 hours and then that was that. Poof. Very common to say "is that it? what's next?" Tons can be next. Sign up for another race. Doesn't have to be a marathon. Or it can be. Maybe you'll want to go faster next time. Maybe you'd like to see if you can match that time. Maybe you want to run a better race (assuming you had something to improve over this one - I dunno). Maybe you just want to experience another race locale. Remind yourself of all those times in the past when sub 3:40 (I'm assuming 3:40 was your BQ time, but I could be wrong) seemed so unlikely. And you kicked its ass. Because you put in the training it may seem more, well, ordinary. But it ain't! You did great.

Like mikey and the others said - nothing wrong with you at all. It happens, and not just for running. When you work that hard at anything, and then the goal or the reason for working hard is gone, you fell like you're missing something. Time to let yourself bask in the glory of accomplishing the goal a little, now. When people ask what you did last weekend, or what you've been up to lately, you get to say "Oh, not much. Just qualifying to run the Boston Marathon!!" with a big grin on your face! Have you gone back out for a run yet? If BQ feels like it's not enough, maybe it's time to just get out and run - no watch, no Garmin, no set goal - just run to enjoy running. Try and get yourself back to the point where you can remember reason you started running in the first place, whatever that was, the feelings you had then, and why you enjoyed it.

Oh, and BUGS!!!!! So good to see you!!! I wish I could join you for Fargo again in May but I doubt DH will come off the wallet to ship me to Boston AND Fargo. Can't say I blame him. I thought qualifying for Boston would be the painful part... turns out paying for for the trip is going to hurt way worse! I'll drop you an e-mail this weekend to catch up. I want to hear how you're doing!

I hear the "Boston" trip is worth every penny. I think it is money well spent. If you run Fargo you can see family. That's my excuse, so it's not a running expense, but just the cost of living away from extended family. Maybe I should come run with you. I've been looking for an execuse to fly somewhere. My email is g . bugs @ hotmail . com (remove spam spaces)