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: 3/8-3/14

Humpday & St.Patty’s Day! I wish I had planned something festive for the day, but I haven’t. I guess there’s still time! What’s your favorite St.Patty’s Day food? Irish Stew, Corned Beef, or Soda Bread? I actually haven’t tried any of these. Maybe this year should be ‘the year’?!

Monday, 3/8: 10 minutes on the indoor trainer, 35 minutes of strength, & 9 x 800m

Tuesday, 3/9: 1 hour easy run between night shifts

Wednesday, 3/10: 20 minutes of strength & 45 minute easy run

Thursday, 3/11: 35 minutes of Pilates & PT exercises & 3:15 long run

Friday,3/12: 15 minutes on the indoor trainer, 25 minute tempo run, & 35 minutes of strength

Saturday, 3/13: Rest Day

Sunday, 3/14: Another rest day! Originally planned to do yoga after work, but the time change got the best of me and I fell asleep almost directly after work.

Total Mileage: 43.08 miles & ALL OUTDOOR RUNS!

Feature Friday: Why Take A Rest Day?

Happy Friday! This is basically like my Sunday, since I have to work for the next four days so I’m taking advantage of the day off and trying to get as many chores done as possible. I like to get all my meal prep and clothes laid out in the morning so I can have the rest of the day to do fun things (like running or reading)! My body is TIRED from my 19.5 mile long run yesterday, so I’m very much looking forward to my rest day tomorrow. I am NOT looking forward to losing an hour of precious sleep Sunday morning (since I already get very little sleep between my shifts), but it will be so nice for it to be lighter out later in the evenings. YAY for longer days ahead.

So, why are rest days important each week? They allow your body time to recovery, replenish, ‘fill its tank’ for the week ahead, and adapt to the previous weeks training load. If you never take rest days (I.e. very gentle movement), then you’re putting your body at an increased risk for injury or burn-out.

Everyone’s body is different, so some can run everyday of the year and never get injured, but it’s also important to recognize that they are probably also running at a wide range of speeds to give their body the necessary time it needs to adapt and get stronger. When we rest, our muscles rebuild the fibers that slowly get broken down during harder/longer training runs. I like to think of it as we’re stitching our body back together.

It’s good to get some movement in your body during rest days- like walking, yoga, light cycling, gentle stretching, or swimming to help stimulate the blood flow to your muscles (helps repair them faster), but listen to your body. Sometimes I really just need a day of total ‘nothingness’ and that’s OK! Over time, you’ll come to know your body better and be able to recover from your workouts more efficiently.

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—How do you like to spend your rest days?
-Favorite cross-training activity?

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