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The Independent
27-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
London Marathon runners warned of the importance of a post-race plan
As the sun rises over the River Thames on marathon day this year, tens of thousands of cheering spectators will fill the streets and a record-breaking 56,000 adrenaline-fuelled runners will gather at the starting line of the TCS London Marathon. At the start of the gun, the stampede of runners will surge forward, bringing the streets of London alive with the rhythmic thud of trainers, the sweat of determination, and the roaring of the crowd shouting: 'Come on, you can do it!' The race isn't just about competition; it's a celebration of perseverance, passion and overcoming adversity. 'Every marathon is up and down, very emotional' says 'Britain's bladerunner', double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead, who holds the Guinness World Record for fastest double amputee marathon in 2024. At the finish line, exhaustion is mixed with triumph and runners share in a sense of collective achievement. But once the race is over, it's back home to daily tasks; the gruelling demands of the training schedule vanish, and the highs of the marathon can fade quickly. The low after the high While marathon runners usually experience a great sense of accomplishment and euphoria after completing a race, it can often be followed by a lingering sense of emptiness. A 2024 study found that endurance athletes often face a mixture of emotions after a race, both physically and mentally. Their feelings seem to depend on factors like how much time they spent training and their ability to set new goals for the next phase of training. A comedown after a major event is a common experience for many athletes. After the months of intense training, physical exertion and the emotional high of participating in such a momentous event, the mind and body can experience a crash and 'post-marathon blues' can set in as the excitement, adrenaline and sense of purpose and meaning fades. The post-marathon blues describes mild depression and feelings of emptiness. It's characterised by increased anxiety levels, depression, burnout and challenges in adjusting back to everyday life. Set goals, rest and recover Marathon runners report that it can take between one to eight weeks before they feel their well-being return to pre-race levels. While setting goals ahead of time could help alleviate negative emotions after the marathon, attempting to achieve another goal too soon also has its risks, including injury and training plateau. Eddie Izzard, who ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 and 31 in 31 days in 2020, has been open about the physical toll of running multiple marathons. For some, though, marathon running is a way of life, as ' ultramarathon man' Dean Karnazes explains: 'I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe in fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run … to savour the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.' Setting a new goal, however, doesn't have to be another marathon or even another sports-related goal. Reflect on and enjoy the sense of achievement from running a marathon and channel this into other aspects of your life and explore other interests like a DIY project or a hobby. A post-marathon plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule. Proper recovery and continued maintenance of your physical and mental wellbeing are essential for long-term performance, injury prevention and overall health. While there is no one-size-fits-all recovery plan, some suggest a phased recovery, building up to a return to training after adequate recovery time. In the end, post-marathon blues is a real challenge. Despite the euphoria of such an incredible achievement, experiencing negative emotions is inevitable and something you might not be able to avoid. But post-marathon blues doesn't have to define the journey. It's all part of the process. And athletes, if physically and psychologically prepared, can turn the finishing line into a new starting point.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why a post-race plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule
As the sun rises over the River Thames on marathon day this year, tens of thousands of cheering spectators will fill the streets and a record-breaking 56,000 adrenaline-fuelled runners will gather at the starting line of the TCS London Marathon. At the start of the gun, the stampede of runners will surge forward, bringing the streets of London alive with the rhythmic thud of trainers, the sweat of determination, and the roaring of the crowd shouting: 'Come on, you can do it!' The race isn't just about competition; it's a celebration of perseverance, passion and overcoming adversity. 'Every marathon is up and down, very emotional' says 'Britain's bladerunner', double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead, who holds the Guinness World Record for fastest double amputee marathon in 2024. At the finish line, exhaustion is mixed with triumph and runners share in a sense of collective achievement. But once the race is over, it's back home to daily tasks; the gruelling demands of the training schedule vanish, and the highs of the marathon can fade quickly. While marathon runners usually experience a great sense of accomplishment and euphoria after completing a race, it can often be followed by a lingering sense of emptiness. A 2024 study found that endurance athletes often face a mixture of emotions after a race, both physically and mentally. Their feelings seem to depend on factors like how much time they spent training and their ability to set new goals for the next phase of training. A comedown after a major event is a common experience for many athletes. After the months of intense training, physical exertion and the emotional high of participating in such a momentous event, the mind and body can experience a crash and 'post-marathon blues' can set in as the excitement, adrenaline and sense of purpose and meaning fades. The post-marathon blues describes mild depression and feelings of emptiness. It's characterised by increased anxiety levels, depression, burnout and challenges in adjusting back to everyday life. Marathon runners report that it can take between one to eight weeks before they feel their well-being return to pre-race levels. While setting goals ahead of time could help alleviate negative emotions after the marathon, attempting to achieve another goal too soon also has its risks, including injury and training plateau. Eddie Izzard, who ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 and 31 in 31 days in 2020, has been open about the physical toll of running multiple marathons. For some, though, marathon running is a way of life, as ' ultramarathon man' Dean Karnazes explains: 'I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe in fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run … to savour the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.' Setting a new goal, however, doesn't have to be another marathon or even another sports-related goal. Reflect on and enjoy the sense of achievement from running a marathon and channel this into other aspects of your life and explore other interests like a DIY project or a hobby. A post-marathon plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule. Proper recovery and continued maintenance of your physical and mental wellbeing are essential for long-term performance, injury prevention and overall health. While there is no one-size-fits-all recovery plan, some suggest a phased recovery, building up to a return to training after adequate recovery time. In the end, post-marathon blues is a real challenge. Despite the euphoria of such an incredible achievement, experiencing negative emotions is inevitable and something you might not be able to avoid. But post-marathon blues doesn't have to define the journey. It's all part of the process. And athletes, if physically and psychologically prepared, can turn the finishing line into a new starting point. Helen Owton is a Lecturer in Sport and Fitness at The Open University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Why a post-race plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule
As the sun rises over the River Thames on marathon day this year, tens of thousands of cheering spectators will fill the streets and a record-breaking 56,000 adrenaline-fuelled runners will gather at the starting line of the TCS London Marathon. At the start of the gun, the stampede of runners will surge forward, bringing the streets of London alive with the rhythmic thud of trainers, the sweat of determination, and the roaring of the crowd shouting: 'Come on, you can do it!' The race isn't just about competition; it's a celebration of perseverance, passion and overcoming adversity. 'Every marathon is up and down, very emotional' says 'Britain's bladerunner', double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead, who holds the Guinness World Record for fastest double amputee marathon in 2024. At the finish line, exhaustion is mixed with triumph and runners share in a sense of collective achievement. But once the race is over, it's back home to daily tasks; the gruelling demands of the training schedule vanish, and the highs of the marathon can fade quickly. The low after the high While marathon runners usually experience a great sense of accomplishment and euphoria after completing a race, it can often be followed by a lingering sense of emptiness. A 2024 study found that endurance athletes often face a mixture of emotions after a race, both physically and mentally. Their feelings seem to depend on factors like how much time they spent training and their ability to set new goals for the next phase of training. A comedown after a major event is a common experience for many athletes. After the months of intense training, physical exertion and the emotional high of participating in such a momentous event, the mind and body can experience a crash and 'post-marathon blues' can set in as the excitement, adrenaline and sense of purpose and meaning fades. The post-marathon blues describes mild depression and feelings of emptiness. It's characterised by increased anxiety levels, depression, burnout and challenges in adjusting back to everyday life. Set goals, rest and recover Marathon runners report that it can take between one to eight weeks before they feel their well-being return to pre-race levels. While setting goals ahead of time could help alleviate negative emotions after the marathon, attempting to achieve another goal too soon also has its risks, including injury and training plateau. Eddie Izzard, who ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 and 31 in 31 days in 2020, has been open about the physical toll of running multiple marathons. For some, though, marathon running is a way of life, as ' ultramarathon man' Dean Karnazes explains: 'I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe in fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run … to savour the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that.' Setting a new goal, however, doesn't have to be another marathon or even another sports-related goal. Reflect on and enjoy the sense of achievement from running a marathon and channel this into other aspects of your life and explore other interests like a DIY project or a hobby. A post-marathon plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule. Proper recovery and continued maintenance of your physical and mental wellbeing are essential for long-term performance, injury prevention and overall health. While there is no one-size-fits-all recovery plan, some suggest a phased recovery, building up to a return to training after adequate recovery time. In the end, post-marathon blues is a real challenge. Despite the euphoria of such an incredible achievement, experiencing negative emotions is inevitable and something you might not be able to avoid. But post-marathon blues doesn't have to define the journey. It's all part of the process. And athletes, if physically and psychologically prepared, can turn the finishing line into a new starting point.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
London marathon: why you need a plan to prevent the post-race blues
As the sun rises over the river Thames on marathon day this year, tens of thousands of cheering spectators will fill the streets and a record-breaking 56,000 adrenaline-fuelled runners will gather at the starting line of the TCS London marathon. At the start of the gun, the stampede of runners will surge forward bringing the streets of London alive with the rhythmic thud of trainers, the sweat of determination, and the roaring of the crowd shouting: 'Come on, you can do it!' The race isn't just about competition; it's a celebration of perseverance, passion and overcoming adversity. 'Every marathon is up and down, very emotional' says 'Britain's bladerunner' double Paralympic gold medallist Richard Whitehead, who holds the Guinness World Record for fastest double amputee marathon in 2024. At the finish line, exhaustion is mixed with triumph and runners share in a sense of collective achievement. But, once the race is over, it's back home to daily tasks; the gruelling demands of the training schedule vanish, and the highs of the marathon can fade quickly. While marathon runners usually experience a great sense of accomplishment and euphoria after completing a race, it can often be followed by a lingering sense of emptiness. A 2024 study found that endurance athletes often face a mixture of emotions after a race, both physically and mentally. Their feelings seem to depend on factors like how much time they spent training and their ability to set new goals for the next phase of training. A comedown after a major event is a common experience for many athletes. After the months of intense training, physical exertion and the emotional high of participating in such a momentous event, the mind and body can experience a crash and 'post-marathon blues' can set in as the excitement, adrenaline and sense of purpose and meaning fades. Read more: The post-marathon blues describes mild depression and feelings of emptiness. It's characterised by increased anxiety levels, depression, burnout and challenges in adjusting back to everyday life. Marathon runners report that it can take between one to eight weeks before they feel their wellbeing return to pre-race levels. While setting goals ahead of time could help alleviate negative emotions after the marathon, attempting to achieve another goal too soon also has its risks, including injury and training plateau. Eddie Izzard, who ran 43 marathons in 51 days in 2009 and 31 in 31 days in 2020 has been open about the physical toll of running multiple marathons. For some, though, marathon running is a way of life, as ' ultramarathon man' Dean Karnazes explains: I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe in fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run … to savour the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that. Setting a new goal, however, doesn't have to be another marathon or even another sports-related goal. Reflect on and enjoy the sense of achievement from running a marathon and channel this into other aspects of your life and explore other interests like a DIY project or a hobby. A post-marathon plan is just as crucial as the pre-marathon training schedule. Proper recovery and continued maintenance of your physical and mental wellbeing are essential for long-term performance, injury prevention and overall health. While there is no one-size-fits-all recovery plan, some suggest a phased recovery, building up to a return to training after adequate recovery time. In the end, post-marathon blues is a real challenge. Despite the euphoria of such an incredible achievement, experiencing negative emotions is inevitable and something you might not be able to avoid. But post-marathon blues doesn't have to define the journey. It's all part of the process. And athletes, if physically and psychologically prepared, can turn the finishing line into a new starting point. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Helen Owton does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paralympian doing year-long running challenge completes original London marathon
Double gold Paralympic athlete Richard Whitehead has completed the original London marathon route to support grassroots running during a year-long challenge. The Paralympian, who runs with prosthetic legs, is aiming to complete 20 marathons across the world in 2025 to reach his goal of finishing 100 marathons in 21 years. He completed runs in Dubai, Miami and Malta before marking his fourth instalment at the Original Marathon event across London on Saturday. He ran from Windsor Castle through Eton, Slough, Harrow and Wembley before finishing at the now-demolished White City Stadium in west London, mapping out the route of the original 26.2-mile marathon, which started at the London Olympic Games in 1908. Speaking to the PA news agency moments after completing his run, Whitehead said: 'There were lots of enthusiastic runners at the start and the weather gods were with us today. 'Hearing about the history and the legacy of the event was so important that I participated in (this event) because it highlights the importance of the grassroots side of running and supporting not only my own journey, but also celebrating past performances.' He said the most challenging parts of the run were 'the climbs and some of the hills', adding it was also difficult running through the busy parts of Wembley and weaving through crowds of people. 'For me, it's really difficult, obviously, running on prosthetics, to be able to navigate some of those conditions,' he said. He joked that reaching the finishing line was the highlight of the race, but said he felt inspired by speaking to other competitors. 'Everybody starts their (running) journey in a different position, but everybody finishes on the same finish line,' he said. 'It's great to be able to celebrate that with a wider running community.' He hopes his 20-marathon challenge will inspire people to believe 'anything is possible' and encourage more people living with disabilities to participate in sport. 'Hopefully I can make my journey more impactful by getting more people with disabilities involved in sport, but also empowering the able-bodied community to be more diverse. 'Sport is such an incredible thing, whether it's volunteering, spectating or participating. 'I'm very thankful that I've been very successful with winning my Paralympic gold medals and making world records all over the world.' The athlete won gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games for the T42 200 metres with a world record time of 24.38 seconds, and won another gold at the 2016 Rio Games for the same event. He began his marathon journey on November 2 2004 in New York City and aims to finish his 100th on November 2 this year. The Original Marathon event was created by Diccon Loy, director at a sports event company, who aims to highlight the origin story of marathon running. 'The original route – this story – hasn't been told enough about the 1908 marathon. So many people accept that the marathon is 26.2 miles and in fact there's a whole story behind it,' the 53-year-old from Surrey told PA. 'The pioneers of marathon running all those years ago really set the standard to which all marathons run today.' This is the second year Mr Loy has hosted the event, and he said he wanted to celebrate the women participating in the run to mark International Women's Day. His inspiration stemmed from the fact women were not allowed to run an Olympic marathon event until the 1980s. Last year, the event hosted 75 people – to honour the original number of entrants in 1908 – but this year Mr Loy doubled the number to allow more women to participate. 'This year, we knew that the event falls on International Women's Day, so we thought we would respectfully double (the number of entrants) to increase it to 150 in respect of that, because women weren't allowed to run the Olympic marathon until 1984, which is outrageous,' he said. He added that Whitehead's participation was 'a real honour', saying the Paralympian was 'super supportive' of the event.
