Moving on
OK, so i raced at TN this weekend, a real race, a huge opportunity to
get a big PR and i blew it! I don't even want to write about it because
i have gone thru just about everything that i did wrong and all the
things i need to change for next week
I ran 10:23. With one lap to go i was 10 secs behind the leader Amanda
Lorenzen (won in 10:04) and from that you can see how bad i BLEW IT.
and it wasn't physical as much as mental. I just lost all positive
thinking focus and honestly could have done a 360 belly flop on the
last water pit and ran the 85 or 86 split i closed in. I don't know
what is worse - the frustration or embarrassment?
My race splits -
43 (200+), 78 (400)
81 (2:39), 82 , 83 (5:28 mile), 84, 83, 86
If you have no life (jk) you can also watch it on video - http://www.flocasts.com/flotrack/coverage.php?c=49&id=3330
Since I was not getting over the barriers as smoothly and Amanda was
pulling away, (with 3 to go) my race mentality went to crap.. i heard
3rd and 4th place girls closing on me, and when they passed it was even
worse.
After reflecting here's what I did wrong (and need to improve on):
I put more focus on getting to the line without my nerves getting to me
than the actual race. I succeeded in being confident and being at a
"normal" state of anxiety/nerves where i wasn't wasting all my energy
in the porto . But i ran without a real plan, thinking i'd just
magically compete, without a problem stick with the leaders and run
strong.
I did not think too much about what i had in my
great practices - "float" and ATTACK the barriers.. i just sorta ran
and out of 35 barriers only 5 were good. The rest sucked. So I ran a
terrible technical race (which peaked at the final water barrier were i
almost didn't come out i slowed so bad ? ?!?!?) and still ran a
pathetic .2 PR (nothing what i am capable of if i get my head together
- or just stay focused and under emotional control) ; or like most
people are saying "Don't think about it so much!!!!"
but its
hard not to, when the only problem is mental. Physically i was ready.
The effort got tougher with 4 to go, but its a race, thats suppose to
happen. It was humid, and maybe i wasn't 100% hydrated cause i felt a
little fuzzy, but that is no excuse for the mental fall out.
OK enough about the race frustrations. I never thought i'd be a
headcase when i race, Its a new day and a new week and all I need is
one good one - and i am honestly optimistic and have a plan ready for
this one.. (Sure you're thinking.) well i'll just stop talking and run.
I spent a lot of time at church today and I also believe that
God is a part of this, as he is testing me and trying to tell me
something thru this. Nothing happens without a reason, so i'm suppose
to learn something. I also want to make it a point to refocus my life
to Christ and put running 2nd. If all I care about is my running
success, God is going to wave a red flag and tell me to wake up and
realize that I better have my life priorities straight or I am going
nowhere.
After reading this you might think I'm completely
upset and bummed out about life, but I am really actually having a good
week. I am feeling physically strong and definitely recovered. I put in
at least 5 miles for my cool down after the race, then on Sunday after
a long day of travel (and lots of coffee) I got in a 65 minute run on
the trails (armed and ready for birds, but thankfully didn't have to
use any of my rocks or the basketball I found near the river). I had to
conciously slow myself down even as i was feeling great, just knowing I
don't need to hammer every run and save it for the race.
Monday I did a small "workout" of 6 x 150m to get my body used to some
speed. I averaged low 22's for those and enjoyed the time out on the
track. I had a morning run of 6K with Irina and got in a 3K warm up and
cool down.
I'm just about to head off for a quick easy 12K.
Tomorrow will be a little "race simulation" 2K with barriers just for
the mental boost I need before my final attempt at a US qualifier. I'll
get Thursday off with a quality massage, an easy 8K on Friday, then its
Hillsdale for the steeple.
Looking back at this season I
would have loved to have ran a few different races - like the 1500 and
5K to mix things up and refresh me.. but it seemed that each race
opportunity I felt was going to be the time I would hit the qualifier..
but it just never happened so we kept on it. I can't go back, but only
learn for my future track seasons. I am going to request a 5 or 1500
from my coach just before I take my summer break, so we'll see on that
if there are any late June - early July races !
Thanks for
listening to my ramblings.... and anyone's support. Next journal will
be all positive!!! Also - a HUGE congrats to Alan Webb on his win in
the mile this weekend :) :)
post comment
Untitled Comment
12:33 PM, June 8, 2007
.. Posted by Anonymous
Good luck Julia. Hope you have a great race.
Focus on the process not the outcome.
Good Job!
1:39 AM, June 10, 2007
.. Posted by Anonymous
An almost 4 sec PR is great! On to Nationals!
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