The Running Blues: Yes, it exists and I've experienced it. After running the Boston Marathon in 2016, I dealt with post-race depression. This awful experience has led me to work on speed and strength training the past two years.
About five months before Boston, I injured myself from over training. I struggled with patella femoral syndrome and had to take time off from running to heal. During this time of rest, I began physical therapy to improve bio-mechanics and to strengthen my lower body and core. I also had to adjust to wearing foot orthotics because I had discovered that I was flat footed.
I had 12 weeks before Boston when I was ready to start training. At that time, I had set the goal to make it to the start line but with the help from my physical therapist and doctor, I was able to bounce back to my running fitness. So, I trained to break a 3 hour marathon.
"Maybe I was overly confident?"
I didn't stick to my diet rituals the days before Boston. I was anxious, nervous but also trying to enjoy my first time, getaway trip to Boston with Seamus. The night before, I made the mistake of chowing down a full bag of Rold Gold pretzels. The morning of the race, I was feeling those pretzels. I felt dehydrated and dizzy from all the extra sodium. I only had a few hours before running 26.2 miles and I was feeling discouraged as I chugged bottles of water and made many trips to the bathroom.
I was running in 68ish degree weather from the start. I wasn't feeling that speed that I trained at. By mile 7, I had taken my first of the three porter potty breaks. Another after the half mark and the last just before the 20th mile. I spent minutes and more on the pot just looking at my Garmin watch. According to my Garmin, I spent over 12 minutes of resting, sitting time. My gut was hating me and I was challenged to push through the stomach aches and pains as well as not reaching my goal for the race. If it wasn't for my family, cheer squad back at home and the Boston community, supporters, I don't think I could have finished that race. It took lots of mental, self, positive talk to make it through this. I finished the Boston Marathon in 3 hours and 23 minutes. As soon as I ran through the finish line, I immediately sat on the sidewalk curb. From there, I don't remember much other than an older gal wheeling me to the medical tent and waking up with an IV and a few nurses beside me.
This unforgettable experience is quite memorable. It definitely is a story to tell. It has taken time to let go of the "what if's?" during my training plan or the last days leading up to it. However, I truly believe there was a reason for this race. I have learned how to become a faster, stronger, smarter and healthier runner since then. I will continue to stick to the shorter distance for some time but plan to tackle that marathon distance in the future. That is, when I am mentally ready for it.
