Rest, relax, recover and revel in your accomplishment! You have trained hard for the past four months, so it's time to let your body repair. This is often hard for many runners, as a marathon brings not only peak physical fitness, but a phenomenon called "runner's high," which makes you feel so good after a run that you can’t wait to run again.

Along with all of these wonderful feelings, post-marathon can also bring about feelings of depression. A lululemon run club guest recently came to me a couple of weeks after her first marathon and told me that she was feeling depressed. She asked if it was crazy to feel that way. The answer? Not at all. Post-marathon depression is very real and is often accompanied by a sense of loss. You spend four months training, you structure much of your life around your training, you look forward to race day, and then in a matter of hours, it is done.

Rest is vital. Your body needs a few weeks to repair itself and recover before you begin your next training cycle.

a game plan

For me, I set out a post-marathon game plan. This season, my race is the Philadelphia Marathon. After the marathon, I am taking five weeks off from hard training to allow my body to repair and recover. Besides lululemon run club, I will not be running, but will be replacing my hard runs with yoga classes, core work, and strength training to let my body recover and to lay a foundation for my next training cycle. In terms of beating post-marathon blues, I always host and cook Thanksgiving dinner (this year for 14) to give me something immediate to look forward to and focus on once my fall racing season is over.

after you cross the finish line

Once you cross the finish line, start rehydrating immediately. Before your post-run celebration beer or wine, make sure you have had plenty of water -- after all, that is what your body needs. Replenish yourself with some carbs and protein, stretch, and put on a layer of clothes over what you raced in for your walk back to the hotel to keep you warm.

the morning after

The morning after the race, jog 10-20 minutes to get your legs moving a little bit.

the next month

Following that, the next month should be about easing off of running to let your muscles repair. If you're going to run, take it very, very easy, don’t race, and don’t do speed workouts. I recommend cross training. While I pick-up yoga (and cooking), try a racquet sport or something different that keeps you moving, but not training at full capacity. This will not only be good for your body, but you will start your next season feeling fresh and eager to be running again, and will help you keep your post-race emotions in check.

how you spend your post-marathon time

How you spend your month post-marathon is important. As runners, we are sometimes greedy about our fitness, and we want to stay in peak form all year round. This is impossible to do, and trying will often lead to injuries and feeling of burnout.

Are you just starting to run? Read Elyse's other blog post about The Run Date!

Thinking about trying a Triathlon? Don't know where to start? Pop into your local lululemon and ask the team!

Hooray, I finished my first triathlon this past weekend! No crashes, leg cramps or tears – success! The ocean was calm, the course was beautiful and there were 5 other lululemon teammates racing. In fact, it was really fun – at least once I was finished.

Thoughts That Go Through Your Head

You have a lot of time to think over the course of a race. Here were the thoughts going through my head:
• I can't believe I'm doing this – amazing, we rock!
• I'm never doing this again, once is enough, people will understand
• Wow, I just passed a 26-year-old, I rock!
• What do you mean we have to do another loop on the bike?
• Mmm, love the color of my new tank top and look, no chafing
• Crap, how are those old guys running by me? They left 2 heats after me
• I need a mani/pedi
• Finish line, thank goodness!
• Whoa, that was cool, maybe I should do another one?

Highs and Lows

The high point of my race was finding out I got 3rd in my age group in the swim. All those master swim sessions paid off. The low was loop two of the run. I felt dizzy because I don't have the skills to drink water and bike at the same time. My friend and stud Tri Babe, Rachel Ross made me feel lots better by saying "if you aren't hurting by mile 2 of the run at a sprint triathlon, you aren't trying." Thanks Rach!

Try a Tri

Thinking about a triathlon? Do it, sign up! Grab some friends and get it done. It's an amazing feeling to cross a finish line. People will help you. You can have a swim buddy. You can be part of a relay. You are done by 10am and can eat all the pancakes you want! Don't know where to start? Go into your local lululemon and ask the team. If they aren’t doing one already, chances are you'll inspire them to do it with you!

View run clothing:

• Run: Swiftly Racerback
• Run: Speed Short
• Challenge Crop