The Aftermath of the Triple Crown of 200’s: One Month Post-Moab 240

The Aftermath of the Triple Crown of 200’s: One Month Post-Moab 240

I have had quite a few people ask me about how I am recovering, whether I would do the Triple again, how I feel now that it is finished, what I will do next, etc.  First, I will admit that I am not recovering as quickly as I would like! I have only gone on a few runs during the last month, and I feel as though my body is 90-years-old. I will mention that it is getting better, and I am not the most patient person when it comes to allowing my body to recover! I will also add that I could be doing more stretching and rolling. I told myself that I would stick to my recovery plan after Moab even though I did not have any upcoming races.  I focused on this for about the first week and a half, but then let everything slide. I believe that had I been more diligent about stretching, icing, going to PT, rolling, etc., my body may have recovered faster. In regard to my sleeping and eating habits,  it all returned to normal within about the first week. I did feel as though I was in a mental fog for perhaps two weeks. I experienced a lesser degree of this after Moab. I am now trying to focus on running every other day, slowly reintroducing strength training, and doing some crossing training.   

I will not be doing the Triple Crown again….at least not next year or when I am trying to juggle a full-time job and a private practice! It was one of the best experiences of my life, but it is time-consuming.

After I finished my Moab race report, I felt sad that I was closing this chapter. I had put off writing the report and wanted to still stay connected to the people, the experiences, and the emotions. I realize that I can still do that, but I need to be more accepting of how this will change over time. The intensity of it will decrease.  I have felt very fortunate to have had the opportunities to revisit and discuss these experiences on Ultrarunning Podcast. I have also recently been asked to make an appearance on The Intelligent Racer’s Podcast. I am looking forward to continuing to relive some of these moments. More importantly, I hope I can offer some stories, tips, and/or lessons that may inspire and/or help other runners. I also purchased all of my photos from photographers, Scott Rokis and Howie Stern, so that I can make a Triple Crown book! I want to have something physical that I can look through and be reminded of all of the special people that supported me, the challenging moments, and some of the happiest moments of my life.

In regard to what is next, I am not completely sure! I plan on doing some hundos and a stage race in 2018. I would also like to try a 12-hour event since I have done the 6 and 24. A few friends are also trying to convince me to do a winter ultra! I am still on the fence about this, as I am fearful of getting hypothermia and having to drop. I am a strong advocate of addressing fears though, so it is likely that I will be doing one in the near future! I will continue to try to think of some creative ways to further challenge myself, connect with others, stimulate my senses, and feel more alive! I also plan on pursuing running therapy, so my training may look slightly different next year.