The Post-MDS Blues

Two weeks after the finish of the Marathon des Sables the Legendary, the race is over — but the experience isn't.

By now the muscle soreness has long since worn off. If your feet were in bad condition, they may be almost healed. Most of the sand that found its way into every crevice of your body has been washed away. Life is returning to normal.

The elation of finishing has worn off, and the come-down from the neurochemical high can hit hard. Processing an experience like this is gradual and phased. For some, the readjustment to life at home is smooth. For others, it isn't. Here are some things that can occur — and if they are happening to you, rest assured that you are not alone.

The Fatigue

An overwhelming fatigue can arrive without warning. Maybe you have been snacking constantly, sleeping more than usual, and finding an afternoon nap irresistible. It is not uncommon to move through a fog for weeks while the body recovers from the enormity of what you put it through. Be patient. Give it time.

The Emptiness

Then there is the vast emptiness left by an event that was all-consuming for so long. The kit research, the training, the anticipation of the big adventure. The race itself, with everything it involved. And now it is done. It has left a vacuum. How do you top this? What comes next? Nothing seems big enough.

The Existential Shift

Something shifted in the desert. Perhaps you cannot put your finger on it, but something feels different. You have changed — and this can be genuinely difficult for those around you to grasp. How can someone grow so much in ten days and return a different version of themselves? With the perspective gained while away, you may notice things that need to change: work arrangements, relationships, friendships, priorities. Will you act on those insights, or will you bury them for now?

Some people experience one of these. Some experience all three. It can be overwhelming. The post-race period is a time when you may need personal space to reflect and rest. Whatever you need, be kind to yourself. You may not have much energy for others for a while — and that is fine. If you made friends in the desert, reach out. Those who were there will understand what others cannot.

If you are finding the readjustment harder than expected, you are welcome to get in touch.