Mental block when racing? Need advice please

You could try treating it like a progression run and going off at like 6:40 pace and building up to like 5:40 pace, and after that race, it could help you overcome that barrier.

Try meditation

Another workout hero )))

It's purely a confidence issue.

That sounds like it could work, thanks!

I mean there aren't any real races. It's hard to get in the zone for a time trial, whether it's solo or with a few others.

Yeah you're right, I'm just struggling with how to fix that issue

I guess that depends on what area you're in though

No you're right, where I am we're only allowed to have 2 teams at a meet so it feels way more like a time trial than a race

I can really relate to this. For years, I could not run past the 17 minute mark. I really worked hard week in and week out , just hoping to run something fast. I crushed the training with our low 16 guy in H.S., but still fell apart at race day. Recently, I have graduated high school and moved on to college running. I have worked on mental health and visualizing how I will achieve success. You have to do this every day! Really believe you are great and you will eventually have a breakthrough. You may think it might not happen (and I did too), but just last Friday the training finally kicked in and I ran a 16:16 5k in a huge PR! I felt so happy and content after 2 years of what i thought was mediocrity. That was my second mistake. Appreciate where you are and know that your hard work WILL get you through, no exceptions.

For now, good luck. You've got this!

What have your splits been like? Are you going out too fast? Too slow? Losing focus in the middle?

Thanks, I'll try that. Congrats on the PR!

TL;DR: I go out too fast and then regret my decision by the halfway point

Usually it ends up that I go out near 6 flat for the first mile, then realize I messed up when I start having a really bad time around the halfway point of the second mile so the second one ends up being 6:30-6:45. Then my third mile is just trying to speed up again and it's usually a few seconds faster than my second, but not by much, and if I went out really fast then my last mile is slower than my second.

thanks, and good luck.