Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Marathon Blues

Throughout the week following the Rock N Roll New Orleans Marathon, a million thoughts ran through my mind. (No pun intended!)

Monday morning, I was so stiff I could hardly walk. I hurt from head to toe – my shoulders were incredibly sore (I must have run most of the race tense), my lower back hurt, my hips, my quads, my calves….I was a mess. Thankfully, my orthopedic massage therapist was able to fit me in for a massage (not a “feel good” massage, either).

On Tuesday, I felt the same way – still incredibly sore. Midway through the day, another feeling hit me – a feeling of disappointment, and sadness. Not only did I not reach my goal for this race, my body hurt like I had run as if my life depended on it. Why didn’t I PR? Even just by a few seconds? This disappointment rang deep. I reminded myself over and over again that the weather played a huge factor and it just wasn’t a good race day. Every time I moved, I was reminded of my “near miss”. I was grumpy and on the verge of tears most of the afternoon, not myself at all. I tried to remember that everyone has an “off” race and that’s OK! It’s life – it gives and it takes…you have to learn to roll with the punches…

Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun running this race with Nicole. I enjoyed the experience and the sights of New Orleans – I just didn’t run as well as I had hoped.

I felt much better on Wednesday because I was finally able to walk normal again. The “Marathon Blues Funk” followed me through most of the week and I began to feel better as each day passed. Thankfully, thoughts of the upcoming Princess Half Marathon lifted my spirits. I was glad to have something to look forward to, that helped a LOT. Besides, I ran 26.2 miles for the FIFTH time! That’s nothing to be disappointed about, it’s a great accomplishment, one to be proud of.

Have you ever experienced a case of the “Marathon Blues”? I hadn’t since my very first Marathon. I remember the feeling well because I compared it to my wedding. I planned…and planned…and planned a bit more for my wedding for an entire year. As my wedding day arrived, I enjoyed each and every moment….but then the celebration was over in what felt like a matter of minutes. After returning from our honeymoon, I had nothing left to plan. I was happy to be a newlywed, but the day I had been looking forward to for an entire year was behind us.

I felt the same way after the Disney Marathon, my first Full. I trained for an entire year and within a matter of hours, it was over. I remember feeling excited and accomplished, followed days later by a sense of sadness.

What did I do to fight the blues? I planned another Marathon for the following year!

Even though I didn’t exactly train for an entire year for this year’s Rock N Roll New Orleans Marathon, I still felt those similar feelings – I didn’t reach my goal and my race was over. Could I make the decision to sign up for another Full? Sure I could. Am I going to? Not right now. My IT Band worries me and it needs a bit of rest.  Instead of sulking, I’m going to keep on keeping on. I have Disney’s Glass Slipper Challenge (the Enchanted 10K followed by the Princess Half Marathon) to look forward to in a few weeks…and the Cinderella 5K thrown in there, too!

Besides, who knows what next year has in store! I’m going to meet it with my head held high and a smile on my face….I’m ready, bring it!! :D

Have you ever experienced the Marathon Blues? What did you do to shake them?

20 comments:

  1. I think I had a mild case of it after the Princess Half (my first half and runDisney event) in 2013. However, I quickly cured it by signing up for the Tower of Terror 10-Miler and the Wounded Warrior Half. I didn't want to feel the blues so signing up for more races/runDisney events seemed like a good idea, and it definitely worked!

    Even though you didn't reach your PR goal, you still did a fantastic job! I mean, you ran for 26.2 miles - that is no easy feat!! How many people can say that they did that, and 5 times too? :0)

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    1. Thank you, Lauren. I appreciate your kind words! Disney races are perfect for curing post-race blues! :0)

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  2. I've only run 2 marathons and both were part of a challenge, Goofy and Dopey and please don't shake your head. I am old and trying to catch up to all you younger runners. I have not experienced the marathon blues and hope that condition is one I never experience. Karen, those weather conditions you faced were ridiculous and a PR attempt would have been near impossible. Be proud of your race!

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    1. Hah...not shaking my head, I think you are amazing, Pam!! Thank you...I am feeling better now! :0)

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  3. I think its completely normal to feel blue after a major event that you spend so long preparing for, whether a race, a wedding, or any other major life event. I know that I came home from Marathon Weekend and after completing my first half marathon was anxious to get ready for more. I began scouring the Internet for race ideas, only to become frustrated when I realized that I can't run them as frequently as I'd like to. But that also helps to preserve the special meaning of the big events.

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  4. I did my first marathon with a charity training group in Hawaii. You could opt for just the weekend in Kona, or you could add a few days to it. I added a few days, but the girl I roomed with left the day after the run. I walked down with her to the bus to the airport and when it pulled out, I cried all the way back to my room. It wasn't until I saw people leaving that I realized that something that had become a major part of my life for the past five months was over. I never expected such an overwhelming sadness. The only thing to do was keep going. Running became one of the defining characteristics of my life after that, but I still miss the personalities of that group of people. All you can do is plan the next one.

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    1. Wow, Kona...that sounds like an amazing experience. The leaving part sounds incredibly sad...it's tough when you realize a huge life event is over! :0(

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  5. I haven't, but that's b/c I haven't run one! Lol. I am very aware that this happens though and I have tried to prepare myself for after the Princess. I signed up for a 5K just a few weeks later and I'm hoping that I can find a half in the fall to do, one that I can work on my speed and PR whatever I get at the PHM (b/c that won't be hard to do with all those picture stops! LOL). I know it's really normal but sorry you are going through it, it seems to be a process that runners have to go through at some point or another.

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    1. That's great...it really helps having another race to look forward to!

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  6. Aww, I wish I could reach out and hug you! It appears that you are not alone in this feeling! I hope you get yourself back to moving normally so you can rock the GSC next week! OMG did I just say Next Week?

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    1. Yes, next week...crazy, right?! Eeeek!! I feel better now, thank you!! :D

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  7. I signed up for my Trail Half a few weeks before this Full Marathon because after Princess 2013 I learned this "Race Blues" lesson all too well. To complete this Full and be able to immediately refocus on my next race in just a few weeks helps tremendously!!!

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  8. I am dealing with the post marathon blues right now. I ran Goofy's Challenge almost 5 weeks ago and although I did well, and it was also my first marathon I have been a BEAR to be around and overall pretty grumpy. I felt sore, or off for a few days and than I just felt "out of shape" because I wasn't training for anything. We put SO much effort in to the training and as you said it's over in a few hours and than what? I am looking for races to soothe the blues but it stinks!

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  9. I seen to get down a bit after every marathon. Sad that it is over.

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  10. I have been sad after a race and mad at myself for not reaching a time goal, but i figure I have so many more races to run and so much time left, I know I will get there eventually!

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    1. That's very true! It just sucks to train for something for a long time and not reach the goal you were trying to achieve. Ah well...that's life!

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