Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Whiney Wednesday...or PRD

Otherwise known as Post Race Depression.....I'm wandering around a little lost here...I don't know where I'm going or what I'm doing. I don't have a plan. I don't really have a race. I am of course doing the Skirt Chaser 5k October 1st , and my oldest son and I will be doing the Rugged Maniac October 15th. While I'm looking forward to both of these, neither will be a "race" exactly so I've got no training plan. I'm really sad at the thought of not doing another tri this year but not sure that it will fit into the finances, allthough I haven't ruled it out completely yet. I don't function very well with out a training plan. If I don't know what I have to do for the week (even if I miss some) I end up not doing anything. I know that I want to really work on my running in the next year but other then that I've no ideas...I need a plan! Help! I'm sure that I'm not the only one to suffer from PRD. How did you handle it? What kind of plan should I come up with? Any ideas?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh...going through the same thing here! I have my last tri tonight (I think - although I may sneak in another one in September) and I'm saying to myself "WHAT NOW?!" I've been training since January and it's all over?? Oy...
I wish I had an answer on how to get past the PRD - I hope to find one soon and if you find one, let me know.

adena said...

oh that sucks but from what I have seen it's quite normal. Take some time, enjoy training for nothing. Even though I'm out of all my races this year I'm finally just enjoying the training for nothing bit..

Diana said...

I suffered from the major "blues" after my RKC....maybe try something new instead of worrying about a "plan" for something. Our bodies love a change from the norm every now and then!
Your body is still chilling from all the work it's gone through, it served you well and now needs to rest...hang low and this will pass!

Jill said...

I know EXACTLY what you're going through. The only way to fix this little situation is to find a race - a BIG race perhaps - where you have a very long plan ahead of you. How about a half marathon? Would definitley help your weakest area and you'll get stronger in there for your next tri. There's not a lot of choices for half marathons here in Denver in winter, but there is a light trail one in Highlands Ranch in November....and I bet we can find some others. OR, if a race isn't in the cards, just get a tough (like how I threw that in there? :)) training plan for a half and just get yourself stronger. I bet I know someone who could help you! :)

Big Daddy Diesel said...

http://www.trifuel.com/training/triathlon-training/your-ironman-is-over-what-about-life-as-you-know-it

I would guess cut everything in half.

A Prelude To... said...

As my kids would say...someone needs to call whine one one for a waaambulance :D

Girl - I feel you! Once I finished up my A race in June, I just kind of let family stuff take over and not much else has happened on the working out front. I'm real spotty right now in terms of swimming, biking, and running.

Gaye said...

Dude. I spent most of last week *literally* weepy from PRD. Sigh. My solution...sign up for a race, lol! So, I'm doing the Splash Mash Dash this weekend!

Michael said...

Sign up for another race that's not a tri - like a 10K or half marathon and train for that. And then do some biking and running as cross training to keep yourself going. I know how you feel though, it I'm not working toward a specific race it's difficult for me to put together a solid plan.

Terzah said...

I'm with everyone who says you should sign up for a half. I did that one in Highlands Ranch that Jill is talking about last year and it was FUN. And it's far enough out that you could ease into the training as the fall rolls on and really enjoy yourself and the other two races w/ your son and your Skirt Chaser person.

I totally understand the post-race doldrums! And that was such a big race for you!

JohnP said...

Yeh its brutal. PRD sucks.

I stressed the finances to squeeze in another event or two before the weather turns crappy.

Although it doesn't really fix it since the other races are not nearly as ummm awesome as the 'A' race you just completed.

To be honest, I think making epic non-race goals would be a better way to get structured and satisfy those inner demons. For instance - ride a hard century. Do a long bike tour. Maybe work your way up to breaking the next Distance milestone. Swim across a big lake. I guess there are many non-race non-big-money goals that could be just as rewarding as 'just another B race'.

Go do some other sports/hobbies - apply your new found fitness to something that could be fun, or different.

I've commited myself to getting structured in October. Right now I'm just trying to not bore myself to death with all this free time. Technically I should still be training for IM Muskoka 70.3 but I dont have the excitement for it so its hard.

You are normal. So this is a good sign. lol

Matthew Smith said...

I'm feeling a little lost now too with my A-race finished. Hopefully we can find something on the calendar to motivate us and keep us moving. You always seem to be active, though!

Anonymous said...

The more I think about doing another tri the more scared I get, and I'm not kidding! Post race blues are totally normal, let it ride it's course.. :)

Aimee said...

I have so been there!! I'm sorry you have the blues! When I had PRD the only thing that helped was to sign up for something different and set a new goal. I know you mentioned another tri may not be in your budget, but what about a running race? The park to park 10 miler (and 5 miler)? The Denver 1/2 marathon???
Or, what about Venus de Miles??

sugarmagnolia70 said...

Sign up for another big race early next year....and train train train!