...oh no, another post about running. -__-
Ok, here some of my thoughts about the post race period.
I am talking about the dark side of ultra running (at least for me). Because running 50 or more miles is great and makes you feel awesome and high, but you won't stay high forever, and soon or later you'll crash.
Just like drugs, but legal.
But let me go in order and be precise. I'll go point by point and hopefully I won't forget too many things...
1) The low mileage week. Ok, here an obvious point: recovering is important. After every ultra, the week after is very "pleasant" and light. I usually start to run only after 2 days after and I try to keep a low-miles profile. I gradually increase the mileage day by day, but usually the total mileage of the week is around 40-50 miles. And this is good. The short runs are good: they help to drain away every trace of lactate and they are useful to see if the system is working and if there is something wrong. During this week, I don't wake up at 4 am for the morning run and I take it easy, which is also good for the general recovery from fatigue and the mental stress.
So, I am doing all of this and I think I am doing this right.
2) The mental down. As I said, higher you went, lower you'll fall. I am talking here about one fact: while you are running a shitload of miles, you get this state of euphoria, mixed with happiness and omnipotence. And this is all good. You actually need that state and you also deserve it (note: I'm not going into the physiological details of what and why is happening, is not the topic). The problem is that after a couple of days, the mind will be back to its normal state (pretty low and dark, in my case). At that point, you are missing that nice state in which you were and you got depressed. I am still trying to cope with this issue. Sometimes it hits very bad (like after the Habanero), sometimes not so bad (like this time, after Hachie). I can't do too much to avoid it, but at least now I've learned: I know that it will arrive so I am somehow prepared. I try to stay calm, to stay positive and to do things that makes me not unhappy.
3) The hunger. Well, that's a point I really love of the after-ultra. The hunger after race. After my first 50 miles it was a kind of hunger that I had never felt before, and it was amazing. Luckily, it's still amazing! After an ultra I eat everything, and I treat my self with some junk food (in moderate doses). I know that eating is really important after (especially when I basically do not eat during the race) an I am doing it right. I know what to eat and I know how to eat, so I can easily avoid any kind of "magical recovering chemical powder" for the joy of my kidneys. Healthy, natural food are one of the best way to recover.
4) The acute crucial 12-24 hours after. This is basically the reason of why I've started to write this post. Let me put it in this term: right after the race I have an acute phase of ""symptoms"" (I really don't know how to call them... "Symptoms" sounds too harsh though) and I would like to know how to handle them and how to deal with them. First of all, there is the sore of muscles and feet. It's a part of the game, I accept it and I am ok with that. But what really bothers me is something different. Basically, 12-24 hours after the race, I am tired as hell, off course, but I cannot sleep. I barely nap. On one hand, my brain tells me to sleep, because I should be tired, on the other hand it keeps me awake (because my brain is an asshole and it hates me). It's very weird and annoying. Also, in that period of time my legs are like the core of a nuclear plant: they produce an amount of heat that could be used to energize my fridge or even a bigger machine. And this, again, is very annoying, and it contributes to keep me awake and uncomfortable. So, basically, if I could find a way to fix this problem, It would be really nice.
5) Other general observations:
- Drink a lot of tea, especially green tea, or similar. Before and after the ultra, but also during would be nice (I personally love this http://incatea.com/).
- Get a massage, when the sore is gone, a massage really helps. Most of the time I'm not going for it because I forgot/I'm busy/I don't want to spend too much money/I really hate to be touched by someone else (eeewww). But it helps.
- Soak. Soak like you never soak before in epsom salt. It's very good and relaxing, and if you have fucked up feet with cuts and wounds (but I've found it's also good for blister), the salt will help to heal faster.
- Drink a lot of water. We are a bag of water and salt, so it won't hurt.
That's it, the end.
Damn, this was long and boring...
Long topic, so listen to a long song: "Rime of the ancient mariner" by Iron Maiden.
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