Dealing with the post-comp blues
In strength sports, it is typical for 4-6 months to go into preparation for one day. These seasons of training are fueled with focus, adrenaline, and excitement for what’s to come. How far can I extend my total PB? Can I finally hit that milestone? This thrilling anticipation wears off once the competition ends, leaving us feeling a little lost. This is a common occurrence among athletes and can be referred to as the ‘post-comp blues’. This is a natural response to the physical and psychological demands of meet prep, but can be a confusing time for athletes. For some, it can feel like they’re losing interest in the sport or like that fire in their belly has vanished. This is even worse when you haven’t performed at your best or had a disappointing outcome on the day. How do we deal with this?
Start by reflecting upon your competition performance. What went well and what didn’t? What was particularly enjoyable or challenging about this competition? It is important to go into your next season of training with clear takeaways/learning outcomes from the meet.
Evaluate what worked and what didn’t during the prep too. Could you have eaten, slept, or recovered better to make more progress during the off-season? Are there any adjustments that could be made to your training volume and intensity?
If you are unhappy with your performance, take a few days to actually let yourself feel these emotions. Dealing with them properly in the here and now makes it a lot easier to escape mental burnout the next time around.
Take a couple of days off the gym. Let your body recover and enjoy some of the things you couldn’t during meet prep. If you want to get straight back into the gym, that is also your decision - but the important thing is that you are not punishing yourself for a lackluster performance in doing so.
Setting your sights on the next challenge or competition can be a positive way of giving your training some purpose and meaning. Give yourself enough time to make some progress though, as peaking for back-to-back competitions rarely gives us enough time to add kilos to the total.
It’s important to stop and smell the roses. Remember that you are in a much better position now than you were a few years ago. You can be disappointed that you failed a 150kg squat, or honoured to be able to even load that weight on the bar for an attempt. The choice is yours.
Remember that adding kilos to your total is not the only outcome of competition day. You got to meet new people and engage with an amazing community, have some fun lifting, and lay a foundation that you can come back and build upon at the next one.
