quote:<HR>Originally posted by DanMoriarity:

One other point I forgot to mention above is that you're likely to be tougher mentally when you're not beating yourself up constantly in training.
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Another good point and one that not everyone thinks about. This best horse trainers don't push their horses too hard in training or race them too often. They start to lose their heart if they are punished too frequently. The same principle applies to humans.

There was a thread a long ago about quitting in races. A primary reason given was hammering too hard in training and/or not allowing enough time between races. So, as Dan points out, it can take the heart, guts, or whatever you want to call it out of you if you come to the starting line all beat up. I've been guilty of both, btw, especially stringing races too close together.



http://This message has been edited by Jim24315 (edited Sep-01-2006).

There are two little tidbits I've filed away in my "useful race-stuff" mind-folder. One of them is from Galloway; shoot me now:

1) In DANIELS' RUNNING FORMULA, JD suggests that if you find yourself feeling bad in a race, one possible strategy is to speed up. Yes, it's counterintuitive, he admits, but he claims that it sometimes works. I've tried this once or twice--tried it recently, in fact, at about the 2.3 mile point in a three mile (not 5K) race. Instead of beginning my kick in the obvious place dicatated by the race layout--the moment we swung around onto the final long stretch--I hit it hard somewhat earlier, around an open curve, with a strong competitor breathing down my back. He let me go and never caught up.

2) Galloway talks about putting off the moment of truth in any race so that it comes later rather than earlier. I've heard this same chestnut rephrased (Glover) as "The first half is for pacing, the second half is for racing." I've always found that my best races avoided serious pain too early, but enabled me to FEEL like hurting myself in the final mile. I suspect that the fastest possible racing comes, as another poster has suggested, from knowing precisely how hard one can work early on without going over the edge, then digging down--and wanting to dig down--and working whatever is left as hard as possible through the final 1/4 to 1/3rd of the race.

reins
I feel the same way as you. Every race that I finish I feel like I could have pushed a little harder. My times have been steadily imporving (from a 22:45 5K to 19:23) but I still always fonosh races feeling like I have more in me. I cross the finish line and after about 30 seconds of hard breathing (more from the sprint at the end then the whole event) I feel like I could go run again.

I think I get scared if I run faster that I wont be able to hold it through the whole race

A couple other tips for getting the most out of yourself:

i) Run an even pace. When I was a high schooler 99.98% of us went out way too fast at the start of the race. Especially in cross country. You will probably will have to feel like you're consciously holding back in the first mile, but if you do it properly, you will run the 2nd and 3rd miles much faster than before, more than making up for the slower start.

ii) Consciously try to stay relaxed. A lot of runners tense up in their upper body and even in the legs when the going gets tough. Stay as relaxed as you can and avoid wasting energy on anything that's not contributing to your forward movement.

iii) Stay positive during the race. Talk yourself through it mentally and be positive with yourself all the way. This can be easier said than done, especially if you start too fast and are getting passed later in the race, but always try to keep your mental voice positive.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by fredurie:
Training and racing are 90% mental.

http://This message has been edited by fredurie (edited Sep-02-2006).<HR>

If it were 90% mental, you'd hardly have to train at all. Just blare that "Rocky" theme before the race and away you go.

Good luck with that ...

quote:<HR>Originally posted by DanMoriarity:
If it were 90% mental, you'd hardly have to train at all. Just blare that "Rocky" theme before the race and away you go.

Good luck with that ...

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You know what I mean, Dan. When you crawl out of bed in a 155 mile week and you've got 27 miles ahead of you that day, it's mental drive. The body
is just along for the ride.

As for race day, it's better to rehearse the race by simulating it in training.
Example, 2 times a mile @ race pace, 6 times 400 faster than race
pace, 2 times a mile @ race pace simulates a mid race surge to drop
the pack.

Mentally, you've done it in training and in the race you have the
confidence to put them away.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by reins:
I'm prepared (=, just looking to get the most out of what I have.<HR>

I'm not saying this to come down on you in any way, but here's where mental stuff can come into play. A lot of people THINK they're prepared and THINK they're training as hard and as optimally as possible when they're not even close. I used to be one of those. I thought I was very prepared and the guys who were kicking my butt must have some secret. Then I found out they were just training way harder than I was and what I thought was hard training wasn't even close.