feeling down after a big race...

[colby]

I'm honestly not sure what got me through my post-Ironman phase. I don't have anything on the schedule between that and mid-August (next weekend), which is something like 8 weeks. The first few weeks I was okay, I could tell myself that everything was hard because my body was recovering. That argument works for a while, but the next couple of weeks I started to worry, even though I knew it would happen, if I would ever want to do it again. I'm just coming out of it now, and excited for the next race, even though it's short in comparison (different kind of challenge!).

I also felt like I was talking about it all the time, but that was relatively therapeutic, too. Might have been annoying for those closest to me, but I appreciate that they didn't just put up with the training, but the post-Ironman "training" as well. I read about feeling down after the race, so I did expect it, but it really felt... empty. I'm a pretty "go with the flow" person, suck it up, adapt, and move on, but there were a few days I was really down.

I don't have anything else scheduled this year, but I'm thinking of adding some stuff in September if I can find it fairly close - maybe that Federal Way race someone else pointed out in the PNW thread (that's the formerly-Subaru womens triathlon series, I think?).

I have been running the Seattle Marathon, which is after Thanksgiving, and actually keeps my "down time" to about a month - the month of December, basically, which is usually miserable and busy anyway. I do whatever I feel like doing and try to get back into it... in time to start early Ironman training for June. When I wasn't doing Ironman (this was my first, duh), I did feel that same feeling of lack of direction.

I've discussed with my husband (and 'wife') what crazy personality trait it must take to do Ironman... but maybe it's something more than that, that all endurance people, focused people, and people who just really enjoy what they do, have. A feeling of lack of focus that is almost disorienting when you're so used to being focused...

[teigyr]

I can definitely relate. I like to have the focus of an event and when it's over, I feel a bit lost. While I don't have a lot of spare time, I LIKE having my weeks and months planned out. I also like having things to look forward to and, sometimes, obsess about.

This year I've signed up for a few things but when the marathon is over in October, I'm sure I'll go through a time of wondering what to do with myself.

Colby, I am thinking of running the half-marathon part of the Seattle Marathon Since I'm running the Portland Marathon in October, I think doing another one in November might be a bit much but I'd really like to participate and I like the half distance.

I'm already looking toward next year. I think I will work on swimming during the winter (of course I said that last year and didn't) and maybe think about finding an Oly tri. I'm thinking I'd like to make my way up to a HIM. So maybe that's how I get through the feeling lost period...I sign up for something else It's a strange kind of addiction, isn't it.

[colby]

Colby, I am thinking of running the half-marathon part of the Seattle Marathon Since I'm running the Portland Marathon in October, I think doing another one in November might be a bit much but I'd really like to participate and I like the half distance.

There might be enough time, though, since the Seattle Marathon is pretty much the very end of November. There's going to be a 5k this year, too, but there's a lot of room between a 5k and half marathon

The half marathon might actually cut out some of the crappy non-scenic miles, but still goes over some of the boring stuff (freeway miles = boring). Not sure if it includes the (short but brutal) hill that looks like a giant wall, but if not, you won't miss it. It's not a huge spectator race, especially along the middle segments of the course, but if you're pretty self-sufficient, it's a nice way to end the season. There are opportunities for car-enabled people to drive around and intercept the course, though, that's what my sherpa and his family do. I'll come around a corner and hear GOOOOOO COLLLBYYYYY!!! for a little while. They even have a cowbell. If you come, I'll have them cheer for you, if they happen upon you

When I ran my first half marathon, I knew I wanted to run a marathon. When I ran my first marathon, I knew (mostly) I wanted to do an Ironman. Now I just want to do MORE things, different things. It really never ends. I kind of like that.

[Skeezix]

I certainly get down after big races, there doesn't seem like much I'm able to do about it. It is hard adjusting to not having something to take up all of my time and energy I end up feeling lost and listless. So far the only thing that makes it better is time and allowing myself to readjust to a lighter workout schedule.

This year I've not decided when my last race is, it could be this Sunday or it could be in Sept. at the Akron Tri. I'm going to give myself a week or so after this weekend to make that decision. I have a little British sports car that I've been neglecting all summer and have only driven a handful of times, so I might plan some short little hop about road trips with that in order to fill up space if I decide to cut my season short.

[HillSlugger]

I had an especially trying time at the end of last season because I had planned to ease out of tri focus by focusing on training for a metric century. After that I planned to ease into the down season. Instead I went from tri season straight to rehab season, having to abandon the metric century ride, 5k runs, etc. What also made it difficult was that my partner didn't understand why I was upset about losing the ride and my ability to train. I ended up focusing all my energies on rehab and swimming and I managed to get through the depression (I also improved my swimming greatly).