I need a new goal...

[El Gordo]

Hi SP

Post-marathon blues. Very common. You only have to glance at the RW forum to see a lot of people in a similar position.

In my limited experience, it does wear off in time, but you have to be careful about not being too lazy in the meantime. It's easy to overeat and lose fitness.

Planning another event is one of the best things you can do, and particularly one outside the UK, to add to the excitement. I've heard great things about the Berlin marathon, and it's definitely on my list - perhaps in 2004. This October I'm planning to do Dublin. Again, I've heard a lot of positive reports.

The main thing is to revive your enthusiasm. It's good to stay in touch with other runners by using the forums. A bigger step in that direction is to join a running club. That's high on my 'to do' list. As soon as I regain some measure of fitness after my lay-off, I'm planning on joining not one but two running clubs. The local one in Reading, as well as the one at the place I'm working in London. They run at lunchtime.

Another thing I'd recommend (well it worked for me) is to do some reading about running. I've read a couple of things recently that have been sitting on my bedside table for a while, and have recently taken delivery of the Lore of Running by Noakes, which is an amazingly detailed tome. It's a good way of renewing your enthusiasm.

But as we've discussed before, I also think that you need time to rest and recover and repair yourself after a marathon, so if you're feeling listless and tired, it's probably just your body signalling that it's still rebuilding itself.

The other thing is to consider running some shorter races. I really like half marathons. They are still a big deal, but they don't take over your life for months on end. There are halfs pretty much every weekend of the year, as well as loads of 10Ks which are good for improving your speed.

Good luck Andy, and let us know what you decide to do. If you go for Dublin, we must meet up for a pint or two of the black stuff.

Andy