Booing the Blues
We runners have our own version of the baby blues.
You probably have heard of this, and maybe you’ve experienced it. Moms can feel depressed for a few days, or even weeks, after having a child.
I once taught a Daddy Boot Camp class, so I actually know a little something about this, as I’d warn the new Dads what they could expect. These feelings of depression come, in part, because of the nuclear bomb of hormones that wash over Mom during pregnancy and after having a baby. They also come because of the sleep deprivation and punishing work that comes from having a newborn.
But experts think the biggest cause of the blues come from the build-up from being pregnant and having a baby, especially the first, and the fact that all those feelings of excitement get washed away after a few days.
Does this sound familiar? You may have experienced this after your first marathon. Runners, in fact, call this the “marathon blues.” We train so hard for a big event, and the day arrives, and we feel so great when it’s over. And then….it’s all gone.
“There’s so much hype,” said Jamie Shapiro, a professor of sport and performance psychology at the University of Denver, “and then it’s over. It feels like a sense of loss, and we get sad when there’s a loss. I don’t think there’s a way you can prevent it completely.”
Shapiro spoke to me for a story for Colorado Sun I wrote about this very topic. This is something everyone feels, especially elite athletes, who basically plan their lives around something like the Olympics.
I had several runners complete big events recently, and I also completed the biggest event of my life, my 100-miler. And I want you to know something: It’s OK to be a little down after you finish your race.
Races give us a sense of purpose. They make us feel special. The excitement of trying something really hard is life affirming.
I don’t think it really matters if you finish the race or not. In fact, I think the depression can hit even harder if you reach a big goal: If you DNF, at least you can continue to pursue the goal. What do you have when you, say, finish the hardest goal you’ve ever had in your life?
Here are a few tips for overcoming the post-race blues:
• Enter another race — This may sound like a drug addict just taking another hit of meth to avoid withdraws, but I always have a race on the schedule, and as a result, I don’t get the letdowns. I didn’t after my 100-miler. I think always having an adventure to look forward to helps with missing the one I just completed. Smaller races can help you with this as well, as I don’t want you repeating the biggest race distance of your life a month later.
• Have a sense of purpose beyond running — Running should be a part of your life, not all of it. Volunteer, reconnect with friends, set goals that have nothing to do with running, get a dog or try to find something else that gives you meaning in life. There are so many things out there that can do this for you.
• Enjoy the time off — Catch up on your movies. Read a book. Play “Doom: The Dark Ages” (and yes, I’m currently doing this). Tell yourself that this is time you wouldn’t have if you were still training and that you’ve earned this break.
• Go to therapy — I’m serious. Talking to someone about your loss is a good idea and will be taken seriously by professionals.
• Help someone else reach a similar goal — This worked for Rocky in “Creed,” and it can work for you too.