alixta

Post Event Depression is real and it is a serious problem and effects althletes pro and semi-pro (okay amateur) athletes alike.

Knowing what to look for in yourself or loved one is a important step in getting through these confusing and frustrating periods.

Some common signs to look for are;

1: Using beer as a carbohydrate and as a hydrator.

2: Uncontrolled eating justified by your optimistic HRM calorie expenditure from the event.

3: General apathy toward those that didn't experience their own personal high on the weekend.

4: Constant scouring of the event website for results, even though you know exactly where you finished and who you beat (and for those less gifted, those that beat you).

5: Similar behaviour can also be reflected on event photographers websites when you know damn well you didn't have the best matching outfit & your bike helmet makes you look like a dork.

6: Leading questions to office collegues that require the answerer to ask 'so what did you get up to on the weekend'.

While these tell tale traits above are real, and they can impact you life in the short term, they are not as serious as the following classic and dangerous P.E.D. symptoms.

7: Internet shopping binges for expensive go faster gadgets that may or may not help you shave seconds off your P.B.

While this may seem innocent enough, it can lead to one having multiple website accounts which means multiple weekly 'on sale now' emails which can be very virrilant and destructive to ones credit card and work productivity. Many recovering P.E.D. sufferers are known to have close friends who enjoy very good deals on as new gadgetry, or for those with no friends, very good eBay seller statuses.

8: Entering any and every upcoming event you can find. Usually this would be a good thing, the more events you can compete in the better you get right. Well yes this could be true, but justifying travelling 10 hours each way interstate for a 6 hour race is probably going a bit far. All of a sudden the $85 entry fee seems cheap when you factor in the day off work, the petrol money and the personal capital you have to spend, and that us ignoring the extra go fast bits you now have to have. I mean if you are going to travel all that way for a race the last thing you want is trouble with your gear, right. It's very slippery slope.

So there you have it race fans, 8 signs I've witnessed first hand and in my close friends and competitors. Post Event Depression IS real and it effects real people every day (although mostly on Monday & Tuesday).

While it is a recognised short term dissorder very little is known about effective treatments. Personally I lay the blame squarely on the shoulders of the faceless corporations that promote the events, I mean if it wasn't so much fun then we'd not realise how dull everyday life is. Them and the damn gadget & widget makers and sellers, they are all in it together.

So what do you do when a bad case of P.E.D. hits you? Do you battle against it's incessant force, or do as I do. Recognise it for what it is, and give over to it fully?

BTW anybody want to share the drive with me to Newcastle next month? I may have to sell on of my soare wheelsets to fund the petrol.