Let’s discuss post race reintegration. The physical, mental, and emotional impact from the race, the race build up, and then race come down are significant for any race, some more intense than others, but in my experience the best course of action to absorb it all is to take it easy when easing back into everyday life.
Be like Blue.
Physically, it’s easy to take it slow, the strain on our muscles and pounding on bones accrued during the race make it a necessity to move gently over the hours, and days following the event. If possible, staying an extra day at the race destination is preferred. The opportunity to sleep in, stroll around town, sightsee, devour local cuisine, take in an easy spin on the hotel gym bike, and/or take a long soak in any legal body of water is helpful for boosting recovery. Regarding travel, aisle seats on flights offer opportunities to stretch (at least one leg) and if traveling on wheels, lean into exploring rest stops to insure mini-walks, and mini-naps. Finally, after arriving home, aim for an easy swim as soon as possible in order to flush out stiff and shattered race legs.
Unfortunately, I did not follow my own advice when I returned from Boston. I did have an aisle seat on my delightful Delta flight back to the west (best) coast which as helpful, but I was too sleep-deprived/exhausted on Wednesday (the day after I flew home) to muster the minuscule amount of effort to change into my swimsuit, let alone squeak out a few laps at my local YMCA… and I paid for it. My legs took the longest they ever have to loosen up after the race, and my sleep debt did not ebb significantly until the weekend, but the physical discomfort was worth the drawn out time line, because for the first time in decades, emotionally, I felt whole after a race.
Post-race “proud of you” pic.
My experience at the 130th running of the Boston marathon was a 9.5/10 on all fronts. The 0.5 is my competitive nature questioning where I could’ve shaved of a few more seconds along the 26.2 mile course, but I had minimal notes after the race, whereas every other marathon, 10K, triathlon, etc., have left me tormented for days, weeks, months, YEARS after finishing due to depth of insecurities nary a race result has ever resolved. That said, I have not reached enlightenment, there is always room for improvement, but emotionally I am content, and grateful that I was able to train and race another marathon, and that I did.
On the mental front, remaining steady between the ears after crossing any finish line is the key to preserving sanity. I am usually either stuck in the disappointment of the race I just finished, or my mind has moved beyond it to the next race, manifesting what I want to achieve during the build and performance for that race. However, for Boston, I invited myself to simmer in the proud and uneasy sensations that arise when a meaningful journey is complete. Instead of catapulting myself out of that uncomfortable space, and allowing the cycle of unhealthy expectations to suck me back in. I am simply assessing each day as it feels, listening to my body, and doing what feels good.
Post-Sunday run leg drain.
I am excited about the future, but I don’t need it to be laid out (specific races, goal times), right now, or anytime soon, because I know a future in endurance is possible, whatever I want to do when it feels right to pursue it, I will, but nothing feels necessary anymore, I am simply proud, inspired, and amazed by my body, mind, and heart, but I want to give it time to rebuild, aka, I have some ideas, but am not in a hurry.
The book I read last week is timely this week, because it is the autobiography, Smile or You’re Doing It Wrong, from one of the most prolific age-group ultra-runners and gentile personalities on the circuit, Andy Glaze. As I type, Andy is traversing 253 miles through the Arizona desert in the storied event, Cocodona 250. He is a firefighter by trade, but his writing prowess is solid, and his story-telling skills are as vibrant as his positive attitude, I highly recommend reading his book. Plus, he is an fellow self-published author, and we appreciate all the help we can get.:)