NatNews

Sometimes a personal achievement that leaves one feeling joy and pride can then cause a sudden unexpected sadness.

Just as individuals go through grieving processes after losing loved ones or ending relationships, people can also experience senses of loss after preparing for and accomplishing significant goals, including completing races such as marathons, ultras, triathlons, etc.

The post-race blues are real and can impact a person both mentally and physically. Throughout a training period, the body and brain become accustomed to specific habits and routines, and once that training ends during the recovery days following the goal race or event, the body and brain are then forced to adapt to new patterns, even if it’s only a temporary stretch of time before a new training cycle begins.

Dallas resident Keith Jensen is a former collegiate runner who has completed an IRONMAN triathlon, the rim-to-rim-to-rim hike at the Grand Canyon, summited Mount Rainier, and recently completed the Big Bear Kodiak 100K. Each of these feats required extensive preparation of his mind and body, and Jensen said he experiences a sense of loss every time the high from the accomplishment fades.

“The finish line is bittersweet for me,” he said. “The joy is there, but it’s also the end of something I love—the build, the daily grind, the discipline, the doubt, the long efforts, the full immersion in the process, and then the race itself. When it’s over, the sadness comes from losing the rhythm and purpose that carried me through the cycle.”

Despite that emotional shift, Jensen said he understands the need to take time to let himself recover—in both a mental and physical capacity—after so much regimented training for so long.

“I shut down running completely,” he said. “I move to cross-training, incline walking, and strength work. I loosen up on my diet and let my body and mind decompress. I don’t plan the next race right away. I let the experience of the last one settle and point me toward whatever feels meaningful next.”

For Dallas resident Amara Saucedo, an avid runner who recently completed the Marine Corps Marathon last month, the end of a goal race serves as somewhat of a stepping stone to future achievements rather than a reason to grieve over walking away from the finish line.

“I usually theme each marathon or training cycle, and that helps me work through the process as I go,” she said. “When the event is over, it becomes more of a reflection phase—looking back at what worked, what needed to change, and what the experience taught me. It feels less like a void and more like closing one chapter so I can reset and get ready for the next.”

And while the recovery process for one person might mean complete rest or taking part in activities other than running or whatever workouts were dominant during the previous training block, it could look completely different for someone else, including Saucedo, who has a run streak of almost 1,800 days that she is trying to keep going.

“For me, it’s about keeping the body moving in a way that feels supportive instead of stressful,” she said.

Saucedo said staying active actually helps her recover more quickly.

“I’ll switch to low, slow miles paired with light HIIT and body-weight training for about four to six weeks—enough to let my body reset while still honoring the rhythm I’ve built,” she said.

Allowing the mind and body to recover after a race or event that took a toll on one’s body over a period of time is essential to protect one’s mental health and avoid injury. Yale Medicine recommends resting but not remaining completely idle and remembering that the end of one race doesn’t mean that there needs to be a sense of finality, as there are future goals and accomplishments one can make during the recovery period.

For Jensen, taking his recovery seriously is a form of commitment to his body.

“If I push it through a big effort, I owe it a real break—a full physical and mental reset,” he said. “Indulge a little. Let everything heal. Let the mind clear. That pause is what lets me start the next build fresh, healthy, and fully committed, instead of dragging fatigue or pressure from the last cycle.”

Though pigeons are highly common in urban areas throughout the U.S., they are not native to North America but were brought to the area by European settlers in the 1600s.

Music often serves as an integral component in people’s lives for a variety of reasons—whether as a form of entertainment, an appreciation for art and the musician creators, experiencing meaning and emotions from the lyrics and messages, and several other purposes.

Regardless of the reason, songs and artists can impact people in significant ways, creating senses of connection and belonging.

“I listen to music every day for most of the day,” Dallas-area resident Brandy Washington said. “It’s like my mood ring and my personal soundtrack. I can listen to a song, and I’m instantly transported to the first time I heard it.”

Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada said he believes that music is incredibly important and, like Washington, listens to it on a daily basis.

“It is the art of time using noises,” he said. “How neat is that? It is there for any and all moods. Do you need to pump yourself up? Do you want to get in your feels? Do you want to groove? Do you want to chill? Focus? Going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do.”

Music can also serve as a way to provide pleasant sounds to take one’s mind off of other tasks or surrounding noises.

“I listen to music on my commute to and from work and some while I run/work out,” Dallas-area resident Steven Gorena said. “Music fills the lull in my day and keeps me focused while driving.”

Though many individuals enjoy incorporating music into their daily routines, they certainly don’t all use the same platform to do so. With options such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Pandora, and more, the source of one’s songs often becomes a matter of personal preference. Most platforms offer free versions that are not all-inclusive and paid subscriptions with more unlimited access. For Estrada, Spotify is the way to go.

“I’ve had Spotify since I was in college when it seemed like the main one,” he said. “It’s always worked pretty well, has the history of any playlists I’ve made, and now has as a family plan. It also has any artist I want to listen to.”

Those with iPhones already have access to Apple Music but can opt to pay extra for the plan that allows for access to millions of songs and exclusive artists and playlists as well as the ability to download music for offline listening and listen across multiple devices. Gorena said he prefers Apple Music and has the subscription as part of an Apple bundle plan that includes storage, music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+.

“I’m already paying for it, so why wouldn’t I use it?” he said. “It’s learning my likes and curating music stations based on my most or recently listened-to music. It will sometimes lead me to new and similar artists I’m listening to. I’m sure other platforms do something similar, but it’s a feature I like.”

Recent research indicates that 89 percent of total music industry revenue comes from streaming services, with the average user spending more than 20 hours listening to music each week. Spotify is currently the leader in the music streaming market (with almost a 32-percent share), followed by Tencent Music (14.4 percent, operating in the Chinese market) and Apple Music (approximately 12.6 percent).

The aforementioned TIDAL, which is a global platform that prides itself on being artist-first and fan-centered to bring fans closer to artists, might not be as popular as those topping the industry, but it still has a dedicated following, including Washington.

“I prefer TIDAL because it gives more money to the artists for streaming than Spotify does,” she said. “Also, its custom mixes are elite.”

The year is coming to a close, so you can expect to see the Spotify Wrapped dominating people’s Instagram stories. The company began this trending marketing campaign in 2016 to show users’ activity/listening data over the course of the past year, and individuals tend to enjoy being able to see their personal listening trends and share them with their followers. Spotify is not the only platform to provide such analytics, though.

“TIDAL tells me both monthly stats and those at the end of the year,” Washington said. “I like it because I can see themes based on my top streaming songs.”

While some individuals enjoy sharing their recaps on social media, like Washington, Estrada more so appreciates an outside perspective of his listening habits. However, he said a person doesn’t always have to opt to include all of his or her audio experiences.

“Stats are fun for me,” he said. “Sometimes I may not want some instrumental music I use to focus to go on the list, but you can ask the apps not to record those stats if you care enough.”

Apple Music listeners are able to see their personalized analytics with the Apple Music Replay, which is essentially a highlight reel of the most played songs, artists, and albums that were prevalent throughout an individual’s year. And people are sometimes even a little surprised by what their stats reveal.

“I love the year-end recaps and like to see more of the analytics of my listening at the end of the year,” Gorena said. “The current winner this year is Tyler the Creator. I thought it was going to be Kendrick.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff, our sole investor, and dear readers recently enjoyed catching up and watching a holiday movie together  

Monday, December 1: Let’s Fly — Art Has No Limits at the Balloon Museum; National Eat a Red Apple Day
Tuesday, December 2: Free Rooftop Movie — The Holiday at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, December 3: Mavs vs. Heat at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, December 4: Cowboys vs. Lions Watch Party at Legacy Hall; Ken Jones + Tommy Dangerfield at the Dallas Comedy Club; Andrea Bocelli at the American Airlines Center
Friday, December 5: Stars vs. Sharks at the American Airlines Center; Addison Holiday Tree Lighting at Addison Circle Park; Caitlin Peluffo at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); FIFA World Cup Draw Party at Billy Bob’s Texas; The Village Main Street Fest Holiday Market at The Village Dallas
Saturday, December 6: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Champs Run Club Dallas — Holiday Run & Festivities at Champs Sports; Tree Lighting Celebration at Klyde Warren Park; Puppy Yoga at Community Beer Co.; DMA First Free Saturdays at the Nasher; Teddy Bear Party at On the Levee; Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour at Music Hall at Fair Park
Sunday, December 7: First Free Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art Swinging for a Cause at Globe Life Field; Christmas Market at Legacy Hall; Stars vs. Penguins at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at Frontiers of Flight Museum