Crazy Good workouts but suck at racing?

High School Running Distance

9 years ago 09/27/2014 7:17pm EDT

Hi guys, Im a sophomore cross country and track runner. I trained like crazy over the summer and was injury free. During the summer towards the end, I pr'd by 35 seconds with a 16:45 5k. I ran low 17's after that but recently have been running close to 19 min and even 20 min in a past invitational in New York. I was the top guy on my team but slowly deteriorated to number 9 which means Im not on varsity. Any tips for racing? I can run really good workouts, cross train and do weights but racing for me sucks. Here is some of my past workouts:

8x300m at 48-50 seconds w/ 1 min recovery

3x 1 mile repeats at 5:30 w/ 3 min recovery

15 Mile long run

10 miles @ 6min pace

Those where not in all week but some of my previous workouts. Any suggestions? Please help!

9 years ago 09/27/2014 8:24pm EDT

re: Oliver

9 years ago 09/27/2014 8:30pm EDT

re: Oliver

Oliver wrote:
3x 1 mile repeats at 5:30 w/ 3 min recovery

this is not a spectacular workout for someone running 16:45

9 years ago 09/27/2014 9:18pm EDT

re: crete

9 years ago 09/28/2014 2:37pm EDT

re: Oliver

Do you have mono? Perhaps low iron?

9 years ago 09/28/2014 2:44pm EDT

re: Oliver

Oliver wrote:
Hi guys, Im a sophomore cross country and track runner. I trained like crazy over the summer and was injury free. During the summer towards the end, I pr'd by 35 seconds with a 16:45 5k. I ran low 17's after that but recently have been running close to 19 min and even 20 min in a past invitational in New York. I was the top guy on my team but slowly deteriorated to number 9 which means Im not on varsity. Any tips for racing? I can run really good workouts, cross train and do weights but racing for me sucks. Here is some of my past workouts:
8x300m at 48-50 seconds w/ 1 min recovery
3x 1 mile repeats at 5:30 w/ 3 min recovery
15 Mile long run
10 miles @ 6min pace
Those where not in all week but some of my previous workouts. Any suggestions? Please help!

Since you trained like crazy over the Summer, that, unfortunately, may have been your season. That is, your body might just be too beat up for you to draw 100% out of it during races now. Sure, workouts may still be fine, but that's because you aren't usually giving 100% effort in workouts (ex. Your 3 x 1 mile repeats are actually at a slower pace than your 5k PR).

Basically, that 16:45 5K was the result of a season's worth of training, and now all of your races are more or less the equivalent of post-season runs while your body tries to recover.

9 years ago 09/28/2014 4:52pm EDT

re: GORUN1600

I agree with this guy. Check your iron with a doctor and possibly see if you have mono. People don't just slow down 3 minutes in a few weeks while training. Unless you have ridiculously hard runs the day before a meet... Which I assume your team uses logic and does not do this, considering everyone else seems to be improving.

For a 16:45 runner, a 19 minute 5k is a tempo run at best. There is something else wrong. Check with a doctor.

9 years ago 09/28/2014 6:51pm EDT

re: Thisguy

Check iron and ask for ferritin number. Doctors will ignore this, so you must ask in advance for ferritin. You'll probably need to supplement if it is below 40. Below 30 and you're probably seeing some side effects in your racing and below 20 and then it is definitely the culprit.

I would also get tested for mono. The symptoms in racing are similar.

Reply Replying to

Username

Password

Leave the password field blank to post anonymously.

Post Preview

By posting you acknowledge that you have read and abide by our Terms and Conditions.

Remember me on this device.

Crazy Good workouts but suck at racing?

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

You have been subscribed.

Crazy Good workouts but suck at racing?

Follow Seyta

Block Seyta

Follow Texas HS Coach

Block Texas HS Coach

Of General Interest

This thread has already been deleted.

Reply Replying to

You have been subscribed.