I suck at racing!!

High School Running Distance

9 years ago 03/19/2015 9:56pm EDT

Here's some backround info: I am a junior in highschool, I run around 55 miles a week and rest on Sunday's. My PR's are 2:01, 4:27, and 9:49. All of which have been run at dual meets.

My training goes extremely well. My best workouts this outdoor track season include 12x400's at 65 with 2 minutes rest (my last rep was a 59), 3x1600 at 5:00 5:00 5:18 with 3 minutes rest and was followed up with 2x800 at 2:17 then 2:12 (also 3 minutes rest). My best tempo run this season is 10 miles at 6:30 pace (Not spectacular but still ok). Another good workout was 9x300 at 44-45 with 2 minutes rest

My racing on the other hand goes very poorly. I recently ran 2:04, 4:35 and 9:59 at 3 separate meets. I am in much better shape than that but I can't put it together in a race. My ferritin levels are not too low and I eat pretty healthy and get 8 hours of sleep a night. How can I perform better in races? It's gotten to the point where it's extremely depressing watching my teammates who I train with everyday excel in races while I keep underachieving. I want my teammates to do great! It's just that I want to be up there with them

Any suggestions on how I can improve? Thanks a lot

9 years ago 03/19/2015 10:48pm EDT

re: I can't race to save my life

You are probably putting too much pressure on yourself. Just relax before the race and at the start line. Realize it is just a race and pretty much nobody but you cares if you do well. It is just for fun, It is not curing cancer. Go out a little too slow and you'll feel better the second half and start picking people off which will boost you even more.

Another thing you can try is to run X pace, even paced for 2/3 of the race. Example: you want to run 9:40 for 2mi, go through 2k in 6:02. Assume that that is the end of your race before you start, but maybe you'll hang on. Uneven pacing is your enemy.

The other possibility is that you are over reaching in your workouts. Then it seems like you are under achieving in races, when in fact that is not the case. Remember that the purpose of most workouts is to help you learn to run as relaxed as possible at a fast pace. Ask your coach what pace each interval should be. The answer is NOT "as fast as you can go". Your 3xmi is pretty close to your 2mi pace. That is a very hard workout. 5k pace would be more reasonable.

Read Jack Daniel's book. You have to train at the paces to fit what you are currently racing. Way too many people go as hard as they can on every interval. I fell victim to that for a while too. Effort based training and race pace based training work much better.

Good luck.

9 years ago 03/19/2015 10:55pm EDT

re: I can't race to save my life

First of all, as a high school junior none of those times suck even though they may not match your expectations. The problem may be that you've got unrealistic expectations.

That said, I also have always sucked at racing. All of my best performances came in races where my only goal was to make an honest effort and finish. You may run faster in races if you can stop yourself from "racing" and just run hard. That is, however, a much easier thing to say that to do,

9 years ago 03/19/2015 11:26pm EDT

re: I can't race to save my life

Junior year I started off similar times to yours and in the last month of the season dropped down to 4:12 and 9:25. What's crazy is I didn't run under 2:00 for the 800. 4:12 was the time I ran at state, two weeks before my best was only 4:24. Peaked at the right time I guess.

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I suck at racing!!

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