Race amnesia

[jmasgat]

Just curious...how long does it take you once you've finished a marathon or half marathon--or any race really, before you decide to do it again?

I have spent a big part of the last week and a half trying to decide what to focus on for running goals this year and have pretty much decided to do another marathon. Apparently I'm beginning to forget the worse parts of the experience last week!

But this will be more challenging since I am trying to Boston Qualify. The training plan is way more intense. However it does still have the potential to support the DLR half (as a training run).

So race amnesia....what's yours like?

Maura

 

[windwalker]

I'm usually ready the next day to sign up for another marathon but this last weekend of horrid cold has me still not wanting to spend $350 to do a back to back event with no idea what the conditions will be.

I can pretty much gut it through anything but I'm still thinking I need to be locked up for my own safety if I sign up for Goofy again.

Dave

 

[kirkson]

After the DLR half in September, I immediately knew that I wanted to do another one....sometime! It took me until December to commit to the next one, which turned out to be the Pasadena half (5 weeks to go!). After that, I plan to sign up for the 2010 DL Half. Also have, in the back of my mind, the idea to do a trail race sometime in 2010. Not sure if that will be a half or something shorter.

As with previous shorter races, I found that actually doing the Half was a thrill and mostly loved the experience. It's the training that I need to forget before I could sign up for another race. Sadly, running in the cold and rain this week, I remembered it all over again!

 

[cewait]

For a first timer I almost always recommend waiting 2-4 weeks before making a decision on entering a second marathon. Mainly because of the emotional train you ride from the finish line through the day, then the morning after and finally the first day back at work. Once all these pass you can start to get a grip on the effort you put in and your results. I ask most of my newer runners to wait until they can run again for a week. Then they will know.

For a more experienced runner we set down before the final A race of the season and map out a plan. We pick out 2-3 A races then create a training plan around those efforts; making sure we create a month or so of limited running and/or hard training. THis allows the body to recover. As we create the plan we then supplement with training and B races as appropriate.

 

[goofyinohio]

2 Years ago after my first Marathon I said I'll never do that again. I had dinner with a WISHer that night and he said give it some time you'll be back. Within a few weeks I had signed up for the Goofy Challenge.

After Goofy Challenge 2009 I said well that was cool I love my medals, but I aint ever doin that again. Then the special Goofy medal was announced and I signed up within a couple weeks for Challenge 2010.

So here I sit again saying I think I'll just do some halves and focus on speeding it up, but you know I'm thinking Goofy Challenge number 3 sounds like an awful lot of fun. Still leaning towards the Half or Full, but thinking I'm already here so......

 

[tiberius]

If I liked an event I would be willing to consider signing up right away, although would expect a serious discount for doing so. Since that discount is usually not forthcoming I will generally wait until the end of the early registration period. Even with the weather this year, I so enjoyed my Goofy experience that I plan to be back next year. However, I won't register until the event is past 90% as I would rather hold my money as long as possible just in case plans or health conditions change.

 

[SAHDad]

Sometime in November or December, I start thinking about what races I want to run the following year. I don't make a huge training plan, however, unless I plan on actually racing something - I can run a marathon on a lot less effort and training than I need to put in if I want to really race against a PR. So, I have my races pretty much blocked off for the rest of the year. Marathons and ultras, anyway. I can generally make a decent race effort for a 5k or 10k at any point, unless it is within a week or two of a marathon - then I either save myself for the marathon, or I am recovering from it.

 

[CALIFLADY]

I've never had any children, so maybe this isn't a fair analogy, but...

When I ran my first marathon, I remember thinking at mile 23, "I'm never doing this again in my life!". And then about a week passes, and you start thinking to yourself, "You know, if I changed up my training like this or like that, I could have a faster finish", or "Maybe I should try an ultra event next!".

Yep, just like labor and it's miserable pain and suffering, so is marathon running. The memory is short, and next thing you know, your calendar is "pregnant" again with new race plans.

 

[SAHDad]

Just had a random thought - running a marathon is kind of like going to Disney World. You spend a lot of time planning for it, thinking about it, working toward it. It costs a lot of money, and afterwards, you are exhausted, sore, often sunburned, and left wondering "Why on earth did I do this?"

But then the bug gets you, and you start looking forward to each one, and wish you could do more. . .

 

[heatherlynn444]

while running the disney 1/2 in the freezing cold and rain, I wondered why I was doing this, but by the time I got home from Disney I was ready to sign up for the full. Am I crazy?!? as miserable as the weather was I felt so acomplished!

 

[FFigawi]

I think it all depends on the race and how you feel during and after the race. For example, the first words out of my mouth after finishing Goofy this year were "I loved it! I can't wait to do it again!" It took me a little longer to get over my poor run in San Antonio, more like a few weeks than a few seconds. I think it's really more mental than physical. Kind of like finishing a marathon itself, I suppose.

 

[laxdef69]

to sign up to do another Ironman the second I crossed the finish line. The only reason I didn't is that I wanted to reconnect with family and friends this year...I'll ignore them all in 2011!

 

[scoolover]

...about an hour after the kidney stone passes!

After my first full, I was beat but still spent the afternoon at Epcot. I found myself getting very jealous of those wearing the goofy medals. I was planning for the following Goofy that day. I was nervous that it was going to fill up while I stayed at Disney for the following week but I got home and signed up.

After my last in - disney '09 - I said I am taking a break from the full for a while and as of now, I don't have the desire yet to do the training. I HATE the training.

 

[geaux_half]

Unfortunately part of my taper madness seems to include signing up for future races before I actually run the event next up on my schedule.
I guess it keeps me motivated as there's always some event on the horizon.

 

[DianeL]

So here I sit again saying I think I'll just do some halves and focus on speeding it up, but you know I'm thinking Goofy Challenge number 3 sounds like an awful lot of fun. Still leaning towards the Half or Full, but thinking I'm already here so......

Chris, Click the button. Do it. You know you want to. I'm off to alert Tracy

Maura,

Amnesia hit pretty much Monday, Jan 11th. Every so often a stray scary memory will hit me (Mile 1 is always rough) but I pretty much knew going into Marathon Weekend what I was leaning towards for 2011. I was more a matter of how well I handled the distance(s) and the recovery. Tonight was my 4th run since coming home. My 1st run on Saturday I came home told DH that I'd decided as I felt so good that I wanted to do it again. Apparently Debra went a bit too easy on me since I was still able to walk Oh don't get me wrong, I have had the usual stiffness but I figured after Goofy that I'd be bed ridden

Good luck with the 2010 goals/plans/training

 

[syko]

I must have permanent amnesia as I always have races planed.
My next ones start on 31st Jan and I have a marathon every weekend for the next 4 weeks.

 

[Ronda93]

I have perfect recall and am completely hooked. The sense of accomplishment that went with training for and finishing the half marathon was wonderful. I want that again.

I'm planning on St Louis half April 11. After that I'm not sure. Chicago half is September 12 - it would be fun to see old friends in Chicago, too.

Ronda

 

[Dolce27]

As I crossed the Finish Line of the 2010 marathon.

 

[laughinplace199]

I've only run two marathons, so I don't have a ton of experience, but I'd say it's a lot like childbirth.

After I ran the full in 2009, I kept saying how it was the hardest thing I've ever done and I don't understand why people would do it more than once. Pretty much the same things I said after my first child was born. By the time marathon weekend was over and we were heading back home, I was ready to sign up for 2010.

I guess my amnesia must be pretty strong because I did the full again in 2010...and I have 3 kids.

Maura - Good luck with qualifying for Boston!

 

[wtpclc]

2 days after finish of teh first marathon to go from Never again to next time....