It’s an all-too-common scenario in triathlon - you’ve signed up for, trained for, and completed your race. The finish-line pictures have been taken, the post-race parties and high-fives from friends are now past, the swim, bike and run sessions in your planned-out program are over, and suddenly you have a big, empty void in your life.
You feel lost. As though a part of you is dead.
This has happened to many. This phenomena is called “post race blues”, It happens to many athletes who have set big goals to achieve and once they have reached them may begin to feel lost.
The post-race blues are entirely natural. Just think about it: if you had infinite amounts of joy, satisfaction, and self-fulfillment after accomplishing your goal, then you’d never have any incentive to move on to another goal! You’d just sit around basking in gumdrops, rainbows, and sunshine the rest of your life.
If it weren’t or post race blues triathlon might not even exist as one race may be all people need! Post race blues are often a reality for many athletes and they need to be tackled so you can move on to bigger and better things. This article will give you 3 processes to use to beat your own post race funk.
How To Beat the Post-Race Blues Step #1: Document your journey. Post race blues can become intensified with lack of closure. Writing, making videos or making poster with photos can allow you to release all kinds of emotions. Attempt to asnser these questions: What sis you do? How did you prepare? How do you feel during the race? How did you feel post race? What could you do to make every thing better?
How To Beat the Post-Race Blues Step #2: Reboot and Refresh. If you try to “mask” your blues by jumping right back into swimming, cycling and running, you might last a couple weeks before mental fatigue and boredom set in. The same can be said for individuals who “Qualify for Kona” and jump right back into hard training, or don’t get the PR they wanted, and jump right back into hard training. So instead, you should “reboot and refresh”. How? Pick up a new sport (like golf), choose a new hobby (like studying red wine or playing the guitar) and find other sources of joy and fulfillment (like hanging out with your friends and family). Give yourself 2-3 weeks of complete down-time without any pressure to swim, bike or run.
How To Beat the Post-Race Blues Step #3: Create a New Goal. The empty valley created by an achieved goal is simply screaming to be filled by a new mountain for you to climb. Once you’ve completed your re-boot and re-fresh, or during that time, pour through triathlon calendars, triathlon magazines and race reports to find an even that truly excites you. A new distance? A unique destination? A group or club event? As soon as you have found your new goal, it is important to register for the event and find a plan to get you ready for the event- remember you want to strike while the iron is hot and you have an empty void to fill. Most importantly, remember that your goal doesn’t have to be a new race. It can also be getting six-pack abs, losing 20 pounds, or even becoming a rock star on the electronic keyboard.’
By following these three steps to beat the post-race blues, you can avoid the trap that many fall into: achieving a goal, becoming depressed from the empty void, then gaining 30 pounds or giving up on their sport because they just don’t know what to do next.
Ready to smash your Post Race Blues away and start racing again? Go to Rock Star Triathlete Academy and get your free triathlon training and racing tips.
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