Running, but minus the physical part.
I don't really know how to begin this blog. Usually, I have some form of introduction that leads me into my main topic for the day, but for whatever reason I am drawing a complete blank. I guess I will start with Thursday's training log...
7:30am run: 3 mile jog in 19:45
3:30pm run: 4 mile jog in 26:30
Lifting Circuit (focused primarily on hamstring, quad, and shoulder exercises)
10 minute core workout
It was warm enough to run in shorts this morning, but I still had to put on a hat and gloves. The weather is on the fence; too cold for shorts and t-shirt, but too warm for pants and long-sleeve. I was able to hit my lifting exercises hard, and go up in weight, so I felt like I had a productive Thursday. Today on the other hand, was a completely different story.
I didn't start my Friday with a 3 mile run, because I felt like I needed to let myself sleep in for a change. Half way through the day though, I could feel the my muscles aching from Thursday's weights, so the rest of my afternoon was spent in fear of how much pain I would be in by the end of my workout. By the way, the only thing that makes a hard workout worse is thinking about how hard it will be the entire day. Before I knew it 3:30pm rolled around, and it was time to hit the track. Here is what I did...
1.5 mile warm-up run to Macalaster
12x400m @ 70 seconds w/ 70 seconds recovery
1.5 mile cool down back to Concordia
When Coach told me the workout, I was a bit surprised. I had prepared myself for a horrible day of running, but the workout didn't sound horrible at all. That was my first mistake. I underestimated the workout. By the time I was on the 5th rep, my legs were barking at me to give them a break. I definitely hit the weights too hard the day before, so now I was feeling the consequences. I got to the 9th rep and Coach decided to cut the rest by 5, 10, or 15 seconds (It could have been any of those, because I wasn't paying attention anymore. I was just waiting for the phrase "Ready, Go!") I was able to finish all of my intervals around 70 seconds, but it was still frustrating. I have done the workout before with as much as 20 reps in less time, but I just couldn't get my legs to turn over.
As I laid there on the ground, my coach congradulated me and my teammate for working through the pain. He then said a quote that I don't think I'll forget the rest of my track career...
"Remember, we run meets to see where you are physically, but also to see where you are mentally" -Coach J.B-
I always forget how much of running is mental. For instance, I realized that today wasn't a leg workout, but a BRAIN workout. I had to push past that mental barrier of pain from the hard week, focus on my goal, and accomplishment it. Sure, my legs carried me there, but it couldn't be done if I didn't convince myself that I could do it. The same can also be said for race tactics.
Here's a question for anyone reading the blog. I know every athlete thinks about their sport, but how many of them actually practice mental preparation? Do you visualize yourself doing well? What have you done off the track lately that can prepare you to do better?
I hope I didn't switch subjects to fast today. I try to stay on topic as long as possible, but I throw myself into other things. I hope some of this was helpful. If anything, maybe it got you thinking. Feel free to post something!
God Bless, and good luck CU Track and Field Team at the St. Johns Invite!
post comment
A BRAIN WORKOUT!
3:16 AM, March 29, 2008
.. Posted by missbri
i love it...that's so true!!! track and field is so mental and we often don't give that side enough credit or attention. i just wrote a blog on that subject as well!
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