Questions for mental recovery
A post-race walk can do just as much for your brain as your body
Later this morning, I’m going for a walk. I’m pretty excited about getting out and getting after it because that will be the most physical activity I’ve had since the Pineland Trail Festival last Saturday.
For the record, my recovery plan called for four full days off followed by one day each for yoga, the aforementioned walk, and massage therapy. My next run – an easy 3-miler – isn’t until Sunday, a full week after the race. Recovery is my friend, and I’m embracing the opportunity to rest my body.
Truth be told, my brain needs just as much of a break. After an event that taxed all of my mental resources to the max, my resilience to many of life’s little adversities has been basically nil.
That late morning walk is just as much about mental rejuvenation as it is about sore muscles and tight ligaments. My plan is to replay the race in my head one last time: the peaks, the valleys, and everything in between. That’s not to say I won’t ever think about it in the future.
To be sure, every time I put on the race hoodie that came with the swag bag I’ll remember something from the event. Whether it was the sublime early miles or the sufferfest later on, some memory will flash through my brain and I’ll either smile or wince. Perhaps I’ll do both, or do one when you’d think I’d do the other.
Once you make it through an ordeal like a distance race, those memories tend to linger for a long time. I can still remember how it felt at my first marathon when I mentally cratered at Mile 22, just like I can recall the time I flew across the finish during my first 50-miler.
All of those emotions will stay with me forever, and rightly so since they were essential steps in a lifelong journey. Yet, none of them define me or my path. I am neither weak nor a badass, even though I am certainly capable of being both during competition.
Races are what they are, not what we want them to be. That’s what makes them meaningful, and at times, overwhelming to process. When considering something as mentally impactful as a long distance race, it’s helpful to break it down into digestible parts.
Here are five questions to ask yourself on a long walk following a big event.