The big one is done...now what?
The big one’s done! Your A race is behind you.
Now what?
Depending on the race, you may feel a little sad! We put so much into a big/important effort and after spending months prepping, suddenly having free time and/or no big goal can feel disappointing.
It can be super tempting to sign up for another one to solve this…or to try to “use your fitness.” (Psst- you already did- on the race you just finished!) Before you hand over the credit card again, take a beat!
🧘 give yourself time to relax! Remove the stress of training, the “weeks left” countdown, the idea of training being a structured need rather than something you’re excited about. Get some extra sleep!
🏅 Celebrate your success! Stay excited about how all that hard work paid off.
📚 spend some time on hobbies outside of the sport.
🍱 continue to eat and hydrate. Your body needs fuel to recover properly.
👯♀️ meet up with some friends and spend more time with your family
🩹 address any injuries or issues that have been brewing. The post race reset time is especially critical if you have lingering injuries or sore spots.
🥅 once you’ve had some time to do those things, consider your next goal!
🤔 sometimes, a second big race to “ride the fitness” fairly soon after can also be really fun! But make sure you’ve taken time to rest & assess before diving immediately in.
Finishing a goal race is a big accomplishment- take time to enjoy it and recover from it!