Post-Race Blues?

[Skeezix]

I don't know, it could just be hormones but I started to feel really down yesterday. I should be feeling fantastic, right? Instead I've been disecting my race and wondering why I didn't do better.

I feel listless and not sure what to do with myself, this goal I've been working towards for months is over and I can't find another race that fits into the rest of my jam packed summer so I'm even more blue.

Is this normal?

[HillSlugger]

I did my first tri on July 22. I had high hopes for each part, but it didn't end up as I had hoped. I was definitely down. Everyone kept congratulating me, telling me how well I'd done, and all I could think was I didn't perform like I wanted. Now that I'm more than a week removed from the event I can see that I was putting too much pressure on myself, especially for my first triathlon. I still wish my run and gone better but I can now see what I truly accomplished and how far I've come. My next triathlon (Iron Girl, August 19) will be much harder but I know that nothing will stop me from completing it, even if I have to walk every stinkin' mile!

So, what I'm saying is give yourself a little time to get some perspective and then give yourself a huge pat on the back. You are a triathlete!

As far as what to do now, maybe you can do some running races or some biking distance events?

[Skeezix]

Thanks MD. That is exactly how I feel about it. And I did another quick google search for events in my area and there is one in Sept I think I can fit in.

Good luck on the Iron Girl!

[teawoman]

I did this too after my first tri. First elated, then . I think the only cure is to sign up for another.... Women are hard on themselves. Not everybody can do a tri.

Hopefully after a bit what you will remember is the fun! What I try to remember is that with swimming, biking, and running, I have a nicely rounded fitness regime that I can enjoy year round. I can tweak it so I work on my weak spots *cough*bike*cough*. I can read about and try cool drills and workouts for each of the disciplines. I can imagine doing longer distances. That's fun too.

I hang out on the Runner's World running beginner's forums too and it's very common to get the blues after a longer race --any race you've been focusing on and preparing for for quite a while.

[Tri Girl]

Ummm... you're surely not alone in this one. I felt this way for about 4 months after my IM. After devoting every second of 9 months to training and focusing on one thing- I had nothing left to work towards. I gained weight, became flexible (because yoga is all I did for those 4 months), and was "lost." I finally had to sign up for a spring marathon just to give me something to look forward to, and to give me a new focus.
Sometimes when we achieve our goals, we pick everything apart and are very self-critical. Having a new goal is the best thing to get you "back in the game." And you did sooooo great in your race (tell your brain to shut it and back off the re-thinking).

Are there any races coming up soon (5K, tri, bike race)- anything that will give you something to work towards??