After a race the inevitable happens: post race depression. Now what? Well, train for the next of course! But lately I have started asking myself why? Is it volume? Is it free bling? Is it for a new PR? I’ve been conflicted the past few months on how to train/race… I love to race but after the volume I’d seen in a short amount of time, I started wondering about the quality of the racing experience as a whole and what that *really* entailed for me personally. (Also, I didn’t PR on any of my races because I was focusing purely on endurance and volume and not speed). When in doubt of existential runner’s crisis it always helps to just crowd source for the answer on twitter. So I did. (I was also inspired by Runner’s World email newsletter the Daily Kick in the Butt when they quoted a normal runner where they usually quote an elite athlete.) So here’s what some of them said:

@desireekoh13 LOVE challenge, being fit, exhilaration, learning about
myself and body, competition and insane amts of food

@smellycents To be better… What about you!?

saloniusRUN @anotorias I find tremendous compassion for others when
I’m sensitive to my own vulnerability. Plus it teaches me my true
strengths.

@lisaborodkin @anotorias To remember being human and see the un-curated world. I saw this too  (from@busblog )

This really didn’t bring me closer to my own answer, but it was fun to see what others thought. It also made me realize that whatever the answer is, it’s going to be something unique to me, every person is supposed to run their own race after all (so they say).

If you’d like some of your own running inspiration I keep a running list (pun intended) of local Los Angeles based runners on twitter here.