I've had some strange emotions since completing the marathon (my first) and I wonder if anyone else can relate.
The best way I think I can describe it is to say it was sort of anticlimactic. Right after it was over, I was elated and proud to walk around with my medal and tshirts. Seeing all of the Goofy and Dopey medals made me feel inferior at times, but I was able to remind myself that I did accomplish something huge and it would have been silly to try the Goofy or Dopey for my first time.
Now that I've been home and finally caught up with most of my friends, I feel like my accomplishment carries around with it a stigma (best word I could choose to explain it). It's sort of like being the skinniest person in the room full of overweight people. I'm not allowed to complain that I'm fat or that I'm tired, because everyone's reaction is always "please, you just ran a marathon." The truth is, I didn't think completing the marathon was
that hard. I think anyone who put in the minimal amount of training could do it. I gained 10lbs during the training (and more since the race, ha) and it's not muscle! I really slacked off in training, eating and drinking way too much, skipping strength training, some of the maintenance runs, etc. I feel like I am in worse shape now than I was before I started the whole process.
I think that's really what has me down. When I signed up to do the marathon, I pictured myself standing at the finish line and being in the best shape of my life. I figured I would have to be in order to get to that point. I was clearly wrong.
Sorry for the long rant! I just want to vent to someone who might understand what I went through during this process!