JUST COMPLETED A MARATHON? FEELING LOST WITHOUT THE STRUCTURE OF A TRAINING PLAN? WE EXPLAIN THE BEST WAYS TO RECOVER PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, AS WELL AS HOW TO SET YOUR NEXT RUNNING GOAL…

WORDS: CHRISTINA NEAL

POST-MARATHON

Running your first marathon can be like arranging a wedding. It involves months of preparation, planning and anticipation for one big day you desperately hope goes well. The day comes and goes, hopefully you feel great and then – what next?

It’s not uncommon to feel a bit flat after the initial novelty of completing 26.2 miles. It’s also hard to define your next running goal. Should it be another marathon? Should you try getting faster over a shorter distance? Or take your distance running to the next level and sign up for an ultra?

Firstly, take some time to celebrate your achievement. With so many people taking on mammoth challenges like multiple marathons, triathlons and ultras, it can be easy to underestimate what you’ve accomplished. It’s a huge deal to run 26.2 miles. Fitting in the training is a big feat by itself and almost deserves a separate medal! Take some time to give yourself a mental pat on the back. Remember that the sense of achievement you feel will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Make sure you celebrate your achievement before moving on to your next goal

However, before you start training towards a new goal or make any decisions about how you want your running to develop in future, it’s important to ensure you make a full recovery.