I am having a pretty terrible debut xc season. I'm an experienced track/road runner, so it's not fitness or newness it running that I'm concerned about. A little background about myself:
-I'm 14, (freshman)
-110lbs, at 5'1"
-I run 800-2 mile in track
-I did 35-50 mpw this summer, with peaking at 55mpw, which included a 16 mile long run. 3-5 days a week were in doubles (1st run hard, 2nd super duper easy (9 min mile pace+))
I haven't been racing as good as a wish. In the beginning of the season (late august) we did a one mile time trial on the roads. I ran a 5:32, which I was satisfied with. Flash forward to mid season-now, I suck at racing! We do 1.5mi to 5k races. I ran a 2 mile race (in 13:xx, sucks, ik) and that's a 6:30 pace. 6:30 is my TEMPO PACE, not race pace. And this wasn't just one bad race, Everyrace has been a bad race. 9:xx+ 1.5 mi races when my best mile is now 5:20 (I managed to cut 10 seconds) My coaches say that I'm beyond physically fit, but not very mentally fit. However, I never remember having these issues in track. Help? It's very discouraging and my seasons almost over, I want to end it with a sub 18:50 5K. Thanks!!