Skip to main content

Post-marathon blues are common: Here’s why they happen and what to do to bounce-back


With all the time energy, effort, hope, worry and expectation that goes into our marathon campaign, once we cross the finish line and the dust has settled, we can experience a post-marathon dip.  For some this dip is mild and not-too-significant and others, the post-marathon blues are more significant.
There are many reasons why we can have this experience. One of the main ones, which is often overlooked, is that when the body is physically tired, along with this can come at dip in mood. Another reason is that the marathon is such a big goal in our lives and when it passes we can feel somewhat lost without another goal to pursue. If we don't have another event planned, training can seem quite pointless. Or, if we have another goal, it can be difficult to get up for it.

So how do we remedy this and bounce-back after a spring marathon?

  1. If you feel the post-marathon blues, and recognise it as a common and normal experience.
  2. Rest up and recover, take it easy for a while.
  3. Do something different: planned another event in, a half-marathon, 10K, 5K, adventure race or something that is different to a marathon, that appears more fun and that makes you motivated and interested again in training for something.
  4. Mix things up in a training: if you haven't done hill reps for a while to some hill reps, if you haven't done speedwork for a while do some speedwork, the same goes for anything in your training: off-road running, running with buddies, doing shorter runs, whatever that it is interesting to you, that has variety. Just make sure that it's not like what your marathon training was in about – such as logging long miles, and always feeling fatigued.
Dr Victor Thompson
www.sportspsychologist.com
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to keep your motivation to run after you have signed-up to the event

What is it you want again? Think about what you want out of the event: to finish, to run/jog/walk it, to enjoy it or something else. This is important because it will help to keep you motivated and focused during training if you not only know what you are training for (the race) but also know what you want out of it (so you'll know how to run the event). It will also help to tell you what you need to do between now and then to reach your goal. Variety is the spice! Keep motivation high by keeping your runs varied and fun (or at least interesting). So, do runs of different lengths or durations, do some flat and hilly runs, runs with faster bits, road and off-road runs - variety will be good for keeping your interest high and give a good training effect on the body too. Try to run with other runners. See if you can get some of your non-running friends to run or join a running club. Knowing that there is someone expecting you at certain place and time will help get you out the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Develop confidence for race day, then keep ontop of nerves on the day

For many athletes, as the race comes closer and closer, confidence starts to evaporate and nerves start to build. Here are some tips for what the athlete can do in the lead-up to race day and on race day itself to have a smoother and more enjoyable day. Developing race confidence: Tip 1: Prepare by going through race simulations. Set up training to practice for the event(s) you’ve entered. Make your training physically and practically similar to the event. For a triathlete, then this means that you at least once swim, bike and run: • At the same speeds as you expect to in the race • Over the same distance (or close to the distance if it is a long triathlon) • On the same terrain (open-water swim, hilly or flat bike and run courses) • With the same equipment as you expect to use in the race If you aren't a triathlete, then run similar simulations in your sports where it is practical and safe to do so. Tip 2: Use your imagery skills to visualise yourself completing your event with th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why do fans follow sport when there is so much stress and despair?

I was asked this question on BBC Radio Merseyside today, following England’s exit from Euro 2012 football tournament after another penalty shoot-out. When life is often routine and mundane, sport can bring colour to our lives. The highs and lows, the emotional rollercoaster, the stress and excitement of following a team can make our day, week and year more interesting. Plus, when we watch sport with friends, family and fellow fans, there is a sense of being part of a group , a sense of belonging. We celebrate and commiserate together. It binds us together with other like-minded people. Like the excitement a gambler feels when he is placing his bet, we fans would find it difficult to do without the thrills and spills of following our teams.
Post a Comment
Read more