We all know there is a plethora of information available about Ironman. Whether it's opinions on training plans, nutrition plans, gear reviews and race reports, you can pretty much find sixteen different opinions on any one topic at anytime. However, what I failed to find (or maybe even search for) was information on what to expect Post-Ironman. Race reports are amazing and give you so many perspectives on what to expect or avoid during racing. But they often end with the finish of the race. When it comes to AFTER the race, I had heard depression and exhaustion vaguely mentioned here and there, along with references to "bask in the glory" and "enjoy your new found free time". But honestly, those things just didn't cut it. Let me preface by saying, I had a relatively low emotionally stressful experience with training and even the race. I didn't experience the "taper tantrums" that I had been warned about. The worst of it was simply, "training brain". Where I was often unable to find the words for common objects suck as fork and sock. I would say that my Ironman recovery was by far the most stressful and emotional time for me in the past 12 months. So in this report, I will try to explain both the physical and emotional roller coaster that was my "recovery" and "return to the land of non-spandex living". Because for me, this was the hardest part of Ironman.
Week 1:
This is where all the clichés are correct. I was sore and I was happy. I still found it surreal that I had completed an Ironman. I kept looking at the photos to assure myself it wasn't a dream. I traveled for work the week of Ironman Lake Placid, so I didn't get as much "basking" time as others. Luckily I have an Ironman colleague so I was able to get my fill of gushing out every detail of the race, without the glazed over eyes and bewildered stare response. My plan for this week was compression, walking as much as possible and enjoying the refueling process with desserts for one more week. As much as it hurt, I chose to walk to lunch and dinner in Chicago instead of cabbing with everyone else because I knew it would help in the long run. I capped off week 1 post Ironman with my tattoo! Probably the second most exciting thing, next to the Olympic oval.
Weeks 2-3:
TIRED. I was exhausted, not just tired. I would get up, shower, walk the dog and eat breakfast and by 9:30 would be ready for a 2 hour nap. I was struggling to function at work with any sense of normal intelligence. My niece also came to visit during this time and going from two married adults and a dog, to having a seven year old was probably part of why I was so tired. But she's awesome and a lot of fun, so I was able to focus on her adventure instead of my exhaustion. It was at this point, where my body was feeling normal while doing normal day to day things. I knew I had to go back to teaching cycle on Monday nights. My first night back was great! The next day however, was miserable. It was as if every soreness that I had the day after Ironman came back with a vengeance. I could barely walk, let alone think about anything even slightly athletic. I also decided to try an easy 2 mile jog to the gym later that week (partly to check in on Aniya and partly to just see how it felt). I got 0.8 miles down the road to Boston Street, downhill and realized this was a BAD BAD idea. Every inch of my body hurt; feet, ankles, knees, back, arms. I was nauseous, which never happens for me, and I felt like my heart was going to explode. Needless to say the run home was miserable, but I refused to walk home, so I slogged a 12-13min/mile pace home and called it a day. I was defeated. I had spent MONTHS training for much longer distances and I couldn't even manage a 2 mile jog?! What the hell was going on? I took a moment, consulted with coach and friends and realized this was normal. Take a chill pill and rest a bit more. Mentally I was ok with this, I enjoyed the excuse to relax and spend time with Ramsy and Jethro.
Weeks 4-5:
Now this is where it got really tricky and really frustrating. A month after Ironman the glitz sort of wears off. People stop asking you how it went and assume you're back to normal life. For me, that was not the case. I tried another 2.5 mile run with my husband. We don't run together often, so I usually LOVE when I get the chance to run with him. I struggled and by struggled I mean sucked wind for 2.5 miles at a 12min pace, all the while hoping that he would need a walk break, or a light would turn or something so that I could stop. It was HARD. I could teach cycle and walk the next day, but I was still more worn out that usual. I got in the pool more often, but by overcompensating there I caused my shoulder pain to flare up. I couldn't win. I finally forced a 6 mile run because I knew I had the Bird in Hand Half Marathon coming up and while I wasn't running regularly, I was banking on some of that Ironman training to pull me through. I ran 3 easy with Ramsy and then finished another 3 on my own. It felt like I was running through mud. My legs were heavy and slow, but I refused to let my brain call it quits. At this point, I was really struggling mentally. I was depressed and frustrated that I couldn't work out the way I wanted to. My body was clearly missing the endorphin highs of training and I needed to know how long it would take, but no one had that answer for me. I was an emotional mess. I would go from "normal E" to "Cranky E" for absolutely no reason. I was just frustrated and I didn't know what else to do. I was tired of waiting. I was tired of resting. I was tired of eating and getting fat. I was just tired of this recovery crap. And I was definitely starting to get angry with this process. Type A personality and being out of control of my body was not a fun combination.
Week 6:
The day before the 6 week mark, I had signed up (prior to IMLP) with Mary P and Keely to "race" Bird in Hand half marathon, in PA. Such an amazing venue and race, run by the Amish community, I was not going to miss this one. My plan was to simply jog it, slow and easy and just get my horseshoe medal. Mother Nature had other plans for us that day. I think she decided to punish me for not taking this race seriously. With temps in the mid 90's and humidity equal to that, it was BRUTAL. Amish country is beautiful, but not well shaded. I decided on a run/walk similar to the Ironman run. Towards the middle and end of the race it was a run/walk, but an absolute necessity because I needed to get my heart rate down and try to keep the dizziness at bay. I averaged about 12min miles and they were the most excruciating 13.1 miles I've probably ever run. I told a girl around mile 5, after she noticed my M-dot tattoo and asked about it, that this was harder than the Ironman by FAR! Again another demoralizing athletic adventure post-Ironman. I know the weather was not ideal, but these "excuses" just didn't make me feel any better. I was frustrated, I was pissed, I was tired and I was tired of feeling like everyone else was back to normal and I was still struggling to act like a functioning athletic human being.
Week 7:
I had also signed up to do Ragnar team relay. My legs totaled 13.5 miles over 3 legs, so I knew the distance would be fine, but my pace would probably be terrible. I figured my teammates would at least distract me from my crappy run performance. Leg one was 2 miles straight up the mountain and then 4.3 down the other side. Of course, the uphill felt like crap but it didn't feel as bad as I had expected (I employed my run/walk technique, no need to burn the legs out in the first 2 miles when I knew I was already always feeling like crap.). The downhill was AWESOME!! I felt like my legs were back, but I attributed this to the downhill. I averaged just over 10min miles, not bad but probably due to the downhills. Again, all that self-doubt was really messing with my head. My second leg was around 10:30pm, 4.8 miles through the dark, lonely country side. I was scared to run down a road that didn't even have white lines on the sides, all by myself in the middle of the night. Well nothing like a little adrenaline to get your ass in gear! Between seeing the eyes of some animal in the cornfield to being chased by a tiny white dog,
my heart was pumping the whole way. First I chased down a red blinking light (assuming it was another runner) only to realize it was the railroad crossing sign, damnit. Then I saw another red light, this really was another runner and I slowly but surely caught up to her and passed her. I told myself this run was going to be a "naked tempo" run. Meaning I wasn't wearing a watch, but I was going to run just hard enough that I couldn't talk and just keep going. The pace would be what it was. THIS was my breakthrough! Not only had I (unofficially timed) run just under 9min miles (fastest run since last October) but I felt GREAT! It was as if all the stress from the last 7 weeks finally melted away. I was going to be able to workout and run again! And I wasn't going to have to start completely from scratch. I was elated, not only did I blow my estimated 11min pace out of the water, I felt great. Did I mention I felt GREAT?!
Week 9:
Riding the high after Ragnar and having some time to relax, I decided I need ONE more (yes, I sound like an addict here) race, just one more tri. I had been training since November of 2013 and I couldn't let my last race be in July. So I signed up for Giant Acorn Sprint. Not only is this race at one of my favorite venues, Lake Anna, but it was at the end of September and it was a sprint! I decided for my last race I was going to leave it all out there. I was going to go as hard as I could until the wheels fell off. I had nothing to lose and I wanted to see what would happen. My swim was mediocre, my bike was FAST and my run was ok. (Race report to come) But I felt like I ended the season on a good note. I raced Saturday, subbed a cycle class on Sunday and taught again Monday and am still feeling good.
So now what? Again it gets tricky. I really have no desire to train for another Ironman, at least not any time soon. I want to continue to train, but I don't want it to be my entire life like it was for so long. I'm finding it much more difficult to prioritize and schedule everything from normal life activities, to training, to time with the husband now that my priorities aren't so clear cut. Before everyone was in agreement that Ironman took precedence. Now I worry that if I spend a whole weekend riding and running that I'm neglecting other aspects of my life simply because I choose to, not because I have a race to train for. But does that even make it better?
So very long story short, that is my "Recovery Report". To be honest, it was harder and uglier than any of the training and the race. I'm still working through some of it, but I know that the worst is now over and it's time to start planning the 2015 season! In 2015 we race for FUN!
No comments:
Post a Comment