Underperforming in races

High School Running

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6 years ago 09/30/2018 11:38am EDT

I’m in 8th grade and this is my first year running. I built up to 40-50 mpw during the summer and felt pretty good going into the season. I’m not super speedy, but thought I’d at least be contributing to JV.

Instead, I’ve had three horrible races. Horrible. 22:30, 24:40 and 23:15. I have NO IDEA what my problem is. I run so much faster in practice - last week I did a 6 mi tempo that I ran comfortably at 6:40 pace - and then I just fall apart in races. My last race I was at 12:40 at the 2 mile mark, started feeling sick, and then finished at 23:15. And this was our home course, so it’s not like I haven’t run it at least a dozen times.

I feel like I’m letting everyone down. Is there some secret to racing? Is this all mental? The older guys on my team aren’t really friendly, so I don’t feel like I can talk to them, and the coach (understandably) is focused on his top runners. I know I’ll never be the #1 guy on varsity, but I’m willing to work hard and I want to get better. I feel like I’m putting in the work at practice, easily running ahead of a lot of the JV guys, then just failing in races.

6 years ago 09/30/2018 11:48am EDT

re: Hardfail

Maybe you're going out too fast. Lots of inexperienced runners do this. 11 mins for your last mile is almost walking.

Yes, it is a lot of mental preparedness.

Try to calm yourself before the race.

Do not sprint out and set a hard pace. Instead try taking off slowly... try to go a pace that feels TOO slow. You can speed up later.

I'd say try 7:00 pace on the takeoff. As your nerves settle and you feel calm speed up. Make sure to do so in slow increments and only as you feel capable.

Confidence is king in racing. As you learn what you are capable of you will race with more confidence and be able to push yourself without hitting a wall.

6 years ago 09/30/2018 11:49am EDT

re: Try This

You can feel when it's time to speed up as your breathing settles in and you are relaxed at the current speed.

6 years ago 09/30/2018 12:05pm EDT

re: Hardfail

I highly doubt you did a 6:40 6 mi tempo and can't break 22 min in a race. There seems to be some exaggeration going on here.

Regardless, save the effort for the race. Try running moderate instead of tempo pace for a couple of practices and then race. But before you take my anonymous advice, ask your coach.

6 years ago 09/30/2018 12:16pm EDT

re: Hardfail

TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

6 years ago 09/30/2018 4:34pm EDT

re: 0.5/10

0.5/10 wrote:
TROLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLO

This. Can't believe no one picked up on this. 8th grader running 40-50 miles a week then only running 22-23 min 5k's?

6 years ago 09/30/2018 7:49pm EDT

re: Hardfail

you're quite the fisherman

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