Post race bummer
74
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1445 days
swimbikerun_boy posted 3 years ago.
That Christmas thing that you explained is probably dead on
Maybe it's the fact that some athlete's just don't know what to do next. A lot of the older athlete's that i train with who do ironman only target one race a year.
Who knows
Peace
Tyler
:cool: ~~Cheers~~ :cool:
2334
Member
2426 days
Tribro posted 3 years ago.
ya, I think that's it. It's the big event and once it's passed sometimes you can lose your drive or motivation and be a little bummed. If this happens frequently then you probably have to have some goal ahead to keep you going. Plan the next race, or training schedule to get you too your next fitness goal or mileage goal.
1796
Member
1540 days
PrinceofClydes posted 3 years ago.
What you guys have said already describes what I felt psychologically, quite well actually, but I think there is a physiological basis for the feeling as well.
Exercise is known to produce elevated levels of brain chemicals called endorphins, which gives us that "runner's high."
No training, means no endorphin fix. The week after ironman is a like going through withdrawal.
Another good reason for recovery rides.
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
35
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1472 days
*Shyner* posted 3 years ago.
Kind of along the same lines - does anyone one know how that depressed state would affect training performance? Any physiological or psychological effects that might impair training?
60
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1413 days
BrianB posted 3 years ago.
I was depressed after my first marathon for a full month...actually ran very little and focused on bike/swim. It created a nice rest from running. Ever since that first marathon (I bonked bigtime, by the way) I have not experienced that down after races or hard workouts. The difference is that I have races planned out for 12 months. I have them loaded in my Palm, with traing schedules and everything in place. So, I cycle from training/race, training/race, etc. My focus is looking ahead and how to get better.
494
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1691 days
trainDaBrain posted 3 years ago.
I've experienced this with some adventure races I've done. it seems directly proportional to the amount of personal hype i apply to the race. by personal hype, I mean that giddy feeling about signing up for it, seeing it on the calendar and freaking out about it, and talking incessantly to friends and loved-ones about it... in essence, high personal hype can translate to how much mental energy you build up toward the race. so I usually try to stay even keel about the whole thing, using that mental excitement about the race for some quality performance visualizations when I'm sitting in my cube wating for a program to compile.
still it's hard to overcome that little dip after the race, and like a break-up, it's always nice to have things to do and people to see afterwards..
one of the great things about triathlon is that it's a journey process, and you really gotta love the training, because the races are generally far apart when compared to how often you race.
happy training!
1796
Member
1540 days
PrinceofClydes posted 3 years ago.
*Shyner* wrote:
Kind of along the same lines - does anyone one know how that depressed state would affect training performance? Any physiological or psychological effects that might impair training?
OK, set the physiological effects aside because they are due only to the fatigue of the race.
Other things being equal, there should be no psychological effects on training due to a "down" state from completing a race.
In fact exercise is prescribed by some physicians as a cure for depression.
If you have the will to get out there, only fatigue and stiffness stand in your way!
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
47
Member
1448 days
ThommyM posted 3 years ago.
I find that it also helps if you have other interests / obsessions / hobbies on which you can rely to "pick up the slack" such as music, reading, gardening, home improvement projects, mountain biking, and watching movies, because so much of your world has revolved around your
"family - job - triathlon training balancing act" for months on end.
58
Member
1912 days
cedriclburden posted 3 years ago.
I posted a thread a while back called "end off season blues". I had the same feelings at the end of 2004 tri-season. I worked so hard in the off-season to look forward to my 1st tri-season, and had a BLAST! By the time the season was coming to a close I found myself looking for more races to do, but the truth was unless I wanted to drive to Texas or Florida my season was over. I was very depressed, and I actually started drinking, but I got over it and started training for Atlanta Marathon. Now that is over I'm concentrating on Ironman Brazil.
Advice: Find something else to eat up your time, make a goal and start working on it. ;)
Cedric L. Burden
a.k.a C-Murder
Nothing is impossible for the person who does not have to do it.
--Author Unknown--
I did some reading about how a lot of endurance athletes get depressed for a couple of days after a big race. I have to admit I too get atleat somewhat bummed after a race, or even after an intense workout. It lasts for a day or two and is very real. Anyone else experience this and have a reason why this happens. The article I read said up to 70% of endurance athletes go through this but didn't really have a good reason as to why.
Do you think it's kinda like Christmas....all the hipe and excitement, then it's over????
Tim