needtoreboot wrote:
Mediocre practice with my JV team this week. It was cloudy/drizzling, we were missing a few runners and they were coming off of traveling and spring break. I had some speedwork planned--a workout they've done before without issue-- but it was a slog. After the first interval the complaints flew: my legs are heavy, I can't breathe, my knee hurts on the curves, I'm winded, etc. No one was really in pain so I pushed forward.
The id in me wanted to blurt out "shut the fxxk up and do this, you are all sub-5 min milers" but the professional in me knows that positive encouragement is better. We got through it but the mood was pretty flat at the end of practice. Any advice for getting them to stop moaning and just run?
There are just those days when things don't come together, so you don't want to stress over it too much if it's an isolated occasion. Maybe say something like, "Hey guys we all have bad days, but let's work through this."
Then afterward maybe debrief, get their ideas on what happened and why. But you don't want to spend too much time doing this, since you don't want them dwelling on it too much--then have them set some goals for upcoming workouts/races, so they have a focus for the next time. Maybe you've had your off-days when working out or racing--and perhaps you could share with them how you got through your rough patches?
Not a coach, by the way, so this is FWIW... but have taught so know that happens in different settings.