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Now What?

or

Dealing with Post-Goal-Accomplishment Syndrome

Scott Bay

So you ran your first marathon.  Or maybe it was your best….or Boston.  Maybe it was your first 5K, first Triathlon, first adventure race, first Century ride.  Now that the thing that has gotten you out of bed, made you eat weird things, chafe in areas we won’t talk about, and caused you to consume enough water to fill an Olympic swimming pool is over, the question is NOW WHAT? 

Most of the people I have trained with, raced with, suffered with have been at this point at one time or another and there are typically two responses.  I want more or I need a break. 

Then there is the other type.  Hard race day effort.  Goal accomplished.  Time to relax.  Pass the ice cream…is that a cheesecake?…yes, I will Super size it!  Here too is a danger.  You really do not need a month off to recover from a 5K.  Ice Cream is a powerful drug along with sleep and cheeseburgers.  The key here is to not go at resting with the same enthusiasm you went at your goal with.   Get out and find a new goal or something after a few days.  Do not let it stretch into weeks.  It is like starting over and there is no point in going over what you have already done

So lets review…Rest Good…Too much Rest Bad.  Take some time to bask in the glory of your accomplishments.  You earned it.  Just don’t let it last until you have to start at square one again. 

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