Feature Friday: Why Racing Mindset Is So Important

Happy Friday! I picked up an overtime shift this week, so I worked last night (gotta save up for that house we’re trying to buy!) and am very much looking forward to lots of SLEEP this weekend. I recently hit my 2 year anniversary from running my strongest half marathon (not my PR) and wanted to share some tips that I learned from racing it (since hopefully we’ll get to race again REAL SOON!).

Mindset is 90% of race day. You’ve done the training, put in those longer runs, pushed your limits, and it’s now all in your head & heart to perform to your potential. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve raced and gotten into really terrible mindsets/ talked myself out of performing to the best of my ability. It’s the races where I’ve remained super positive and stuck on my goals that I’ve raced really well (for me).

It’s also much more challenging to keep your mind positive in longer races because you have more time to think (obviously). I still need to work on my mind during marathons, but feel like I’ve gotten much better at remaining positive in half marathons. The best 26.2s that I’ve had all included me smiling and enjoying the race basically the entire time.

I’d love to know what your favorite races were and WHY. Did you smile the entire time and what was your race mentality (did you even have one?)

Training Rundown: 3/1-3/7

Humpday! Last week I had a solid week of running. I worked overtime as well, but still felt like I was able to fit in all of my runs. I had a few treadmill runs, but it was so chilly here in the beginning of the week that I didn’t feel like bundling up to go outside (also I just really love our treadmill). This week should be warmer, so hoping to have less time indoors!

Monday, 3/1: 1 hour easy running, 45 minutes strength, & 15 minutes on the indoor trainer

Tuesday, 3/2: 45 minutes easy & 15 minutes of Pilates

Wednesday, 3/3: 1 he strength training & 2:45 easy running (16.9 miles)

Thursday, 3/4: Rest day

Friday, 3/5: 15 minutes of strength & 45 minutes easy running

Saturday, 3/6: Cross training day that included extra sleep and many steps around the hospital

Sunday, 3/7: 1 hour ‘fun run pace’ (8:24) & 20 minutes of Pilates

Total Mileage: 37.93 miles

Training Rundown: 2/22 - 2/28

Happy Humpday! Last week was weird with training- I was supposed to race a snowshoe run on Sunday, but ultimately decided that I wanted to go swimming and downhill skiing instead. It’s weird to be in a phase of my life where I’m OK with pulling out of a race. I think it’s especially weird when this would have been my first in-person race since March of last year and I just decided I wasn’t really into it, BUT I’m also proud of myself for making that decision. I think it’s been really hard when I’m now working most weekends each month and really have to be selective with how I spend my free-time when I DO have it. I guess this is all to say that it’s ok to pull out of a race and it’s even more ok to not feel guilty about it!

Monday, 2/22: Rest Day! 2 hours of travel to work & a 13 hour shift meant no extra time / energy to do anything else

Tuesday, 2/23: 20 min up/ 10 x :30 hard / 20 down & 10 min of yoga before another 13 hour shift!

Wednesday, 2/24: 45 min easy run & 10 min of Pilates before another 13 hour shift & a 2 hour commute home

Thursday, 2/25: 1 hour easy running w/ strides, 20 minutes on the indoor trainer, & 30 minutes of strength

Friday, 2/26: 45 minutes easy running & 30 minutes of yoga

Saturday, 2/27: 30 minutes of easy running w/ strides, 10 minutes on the indoor trainer, & 35 minutes of strength

Sunday, 2/28: 40 minutes of pool swimming (~900 meters) & 1.5 hours of downhill skiing

Total mileage: 23.21 miles

Total February miles: 141.68

Training Rundown

Happy Friday! Better late than never-> last weeks training recap! I hit over 40 miles last week- first time since maybe August?!? So I’m calling it a huge win. I didn’t get in as much strength as I would have liked, but 2 times last week and yoga a few times is better than nothing!

Monday, 2/15- 1 hour easy in the snow & 30 minutes of strength/mobility

Tuesday, 2/16: Lactate Threshold workout 10 min up/ 4 x 6 min hard (3 min recovery) / 10 min down & 20 min of yoga

Wednesday, 2/17: 45 min easy and 20 min of Pilates

Thursday, 2/18: 2:30 long run, 14.5 miles and 35 minutes strength/ PT exercises

Friday, 2/19: Rest day! 30 minutes of yoga

Saturday, 2/20: 1 hour easy running and some cross country skiing!

Sunday, 2/21: Lactate Threshold workout 5.5 miles and 20 minutes strength/ PT exercises

Total Mileage: 42.69 miles

Training Rundown

Happy Humpday! I have the next few days off, which is good since our girl kitty (Maple) just had surgery yesterday (😭). She had a bladder stone the size of a fingernail and is doing OK- She’s home and the pain medications they gave here are still in effect (so she’s pretty loopy).

Last weeks training was a bit of a cluster thanks to 2-hour doctor appointments, working 4 shifts in a row, and dealing with the side effects from the Moderna COVID vaccine.

Monday, 1/25- 60 minutes easy & 20 mins strength & yoga

Tuesday, 1/26- 45 minutes easy & PT mobility work before my last night shift of the week

Wednesday, 1/27- Rest Day. Between 1.5 hours of sleep after working all night, doctors appointment (just meeting my new PCP!), driving 2 hours to get home, and teaching skating lessons I just didn’t feel like running-> so I didn’t . It’s important to listen to your body and adjust your expectations to it.

Thursday, 1/28- Got my second COVID vaccine, but still managed to sneak in my PT exercises and 45 minutes of hill work on the treadmill. 10 minutes up/ 5 x1 min @ 10% incline (1 min recovery)/ 5 min tempo at 7:08/ 5 x 1 min @10% incline/ 10 minutes down. That was fun?!? 🤩

Friday, 1/29- Complete rest day. This is when the side effects really wiped me out. Slept most of the day.

Saturday, 1/30- Felt a bit better, but didn’t want to push it so did an hour easy , 20 min indoor cycling, and PT exercises.

Sunday, 1/31- Another rest day, but got in my PT exercises. Had to get up at 3am to get to work by 6:30am and by the time I got out and had dinner, it was 8:30pm. Just not enough tIme in the day!
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How do you adjust your training and expectations when things go awry? I used to be really bad at that, but have slowly learned that things happen and that’s life! I’m doing the best I can with what I have.