Be still my beating heart

FITZA · 29-06-2014 07:25PM

Ososlo wrote: »

Friday 27 June
Rest
Terrible sleep Thursday night so was a bit all over the place in the morning. Slipped on a soap spillage in the bathroom at work (wearing heels I hadn't worn in a while) and landed on my right knee and then went onto my right glute/hip. My face missed the marble sink by 2 inches so I was very lucky not to do some serious damage. Filing incident report, took some pictures of it and hopefully if I need physio I can get it covered by work. Very very painful initially and I'll admit it, I did almost cry but once I picked myself up off the floor it wasn't too bad. Assessed the damage.
Knee was sore and marked and felt very bruised and was throbbing for the day and very hot, but it didn't seem to be changing my gait too much. Phew.
Decided not to run that day and just rest up but was very worried about it as due to race Sunday.

Saturday 28 June
Leg didn't bother me in the night and slept well. However, knee gone black and blue and when I got out of bed it was sore with the impact of each footstep. No pain, just soreness. Side of right glute/hip also a bit bruised and sore throughout the day. Oh what to do.... First race of the year tomorrow and this has to happen. Great timing:rolleyes: Foam rolled everything well. Went for 25 min tester run fearing the worst. The impact of each step on the ground caused soreness but not pain and I didn't feel that my form was being impeded. Did a few 10 second pickups and hurt a little more. Oh what to do.. Iced a good bit during the day. Looked up some other races to do instead but I really want to get the first one out of the way asap. Made up my mind to do the race unless things got really bad in the next 12 hours. Spent the day worrying.

On a side note, I'm recording some very low resting heart rates in the past few days. When I'm fit, like in the midst of marathon training last year it's in the early 50s. The last few days it's been consistently 46/47 last thing at night and first thing in the morning. barryoneill50's rhr - watch out!
30 mins easy

Sunday 29 June
Race 1 following 15 Week 5k Training Programme
Funlavin 5k - DNF

Woke up and the glute was quite sore but the knee had calmed down a lot and swelling gone down a lot. It's now a lovely mixture of black and green!
Did some foam rolling (really relieves the glute discomfort) and some AIS and things felt a good bit better so decided to give the race a shot. Wasn't feeling very confident due to the recent incident so tried not to put too much pressure on myself and as I'm going to do another race next weekend anyway, thought to myself that today can just be a test run.

I really didn't know what pace I'd be capable of holding for this. I always had 7:40 pace in mind as that was the target for my 1600s and my recent 400s would suggest that I should be able to do around 23:50 today. So I decided to go out at 7:40 and see how that felt and what might be realistic after that.

Did a 2 mile warmup with the last 3 mins around 8:45 pace and 5 x 15 second strides. Was roasting hot by the time the warmup was done. I might have done a tad too much considering the heat as the sweat was really pouring off me. I really don't handle heat well and wasn't prepared for the sun beaming down as it had been quite overcast the last few days. We were waiting around for ages for the start, about 20-25 mins I'd say so I felt the benefit of my warmup was gone as it was so long ago at that point.

Mile 1: 7:40 - bang on and felt good (first k was done in 7:20 pace which was WAY too fast for me).
Mile 2: it all started to go wrong. Could feel the glute nagging at me a bit but that wasn't the real problem. I was just way too hot and sweating way too much and my breathing was way too hard. Really struggling badly and mentally not in a good place. Mile 2 felt like mile 3 should have when one is really badly mentally struggling but one manages to push on through as there's only a mile to go. Pace creeping up to 8min/mile wtf? Mile 2 came in around 8:10 pace (too depressed to look at the watch stats but I think it was something around that pace).
I just lost heart at that point and mentally opted out of the race as I felt at the time it was pointless to continue as I was so badly off target pace.
So, I made the irreversible and detrimental decision to hit stop on the watch Idiot:mad: (around 3 mins into mile 3 I think and pace hovering around 8:18 afaicr)

In hindsight I should have completed it as I still would have managed a one minute pb and maybe better if I had found some extra mental strength somewhere. Took my chip off and jogged back to the finish.
Didn't pick up my water or banana or go to the hall or anything as I didn't feel I deserved it due to not finishing the race and really wasn't in the mood. My very kind bf dealt with the situation impeccably, giving just the right amount of sympathy (not too much as I hate it!) and some very gentle encouragement about why I shouldn't give up on this 5k malarky and jump into marathon training or take up darts...

I'm not going to beat myself up over it anymore (I did plenty of that for a few hours after the race) as it's my first go at a race in 6 months and I was really just using it as a tester to see where I'm at. The accident on Friday put me in a very negative frame of mind going into this race and I wasn't even sure I'd be able to run until this morning. However, I'm not using the accident as an excuse for how poorly I did as I don't think it had too much of an impact physically. It was nagging at me a bit but not painful.
I'm looking forward to getting in another 5k next week and I'll keep plugging away at them every week/fortnight until I do something decent.
SH!T HAPPENS.

Lessons learned:
- I went off too fast but I really didn't know what I'd be capable of as I said above so it's a learning experience for me. I should have started at 7:50 pace perhaps or even slower. I've a lot to learn about race strategy and my capabilities and that learning process started today.
It hurts to say this, but perhaps I'm less fit than I think I am so need to be more realistic about my goals. In saying that, I truly did think I'd be capable of 7:40 pace today, I really did. I've visited the 'pain cave' so many times in training at this stage that I feel I'm quite familiar with being there - but maybe not quite 'comfortable' enough being in there. I thought that running at that pace in a race should feel easier than banging out these reps on my own but it didn't feel like that today. It felt harder.

- I should have finished the damn thing even though I wasn't on target to hit my desired goal. That mentality of just 'giving up' as things aren't going my way is not going to get me anywhere. As TbL said in jest on my log recently, I'm just not 'mentally tough enough'. YET TbL YET
- I should have done the beer mile as my first race of the year. Guaranteed first female and a national title. That would have set me up nicely for the rest of the racing season:)
- I should have rung my mother this morning for some negative "pep-talking". This is the greatest mistake I made:eek: If anyone ever needs her number to get all fired up to pb, just pm me:) She's great!

pm
5 mile Consolation/Stupid Girl Run. Ran my guts off to get rid of some of my frustration. This was a Progression Run in reverse order. I was really upset setting off so just blasted the first few miles and then got steadily slower and slower. Realised I hadn't eaten anything since my breakfast at 8 this morning and had drunk very little and it was roasting so felt like fainting. Glute hurting a little now so hopefully I didn't do any damage but sometimes one's gotta just run for the hell of it.

Ever wish you didn't have a log?

Sorry to hear today was not a good one. Thank you for giving it a go today in Dunlavin. Whatever 5k you decide to do next I hope you reap the rewards you so deserve:)

drquirky · 29-06-2014 07:32PM

File for compo, hire an ambulance chasing solicitor and go to town. Fire your coach and race more... That's all my advise for now

In all seriousness- 5k is a distance you shouldn't over think. Go out hard and hang on- you really shouldn't have DNF'd as it will put doubt in your mind for no reason- the reality is if you run a 5k right you should be literally just about hanging on and pretty much want to DNF for the entire last mile....

Get back on the horse right away and race this week you need a positive result and from what I can see the PB is there for the taking. Set a race marker- all very well to hit splits in training but racing is a different beast- a famous coach used to say "you are what you are right now" find out what you are and out in the work to push on from there.

Oh and going out a blasting a 5 mile progression run after a nearly 3 mile race effort w/ pain in your glute is unbelievably silly- in fact kinda reminds me of a RK type rash activity (before he got smart, became AMK and started kicking ass

. I'm sorry to be harsh here Ososlo but you need a kick in the ass tbh. Backslapping here will do nothing for you.

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 07:38PM

drquirky wrote: »

File for compo, hire an ambulance chasing solicitor and go to town. Fire your coach and race more... That's all my advise for now

In all seriousness- 5k is a distance you shouldn't over think. Go out hard and hang on- you really shouldn't have DNF'd as it will put doubt in your mind for no reason- the reality is if you run a 5k right you should be literally just about hanging on and pretty much want to DNF for the entire last mile....

Get back on the horse right away and race this week you need a positive result and from what I can see the PB is there for the taking. Set a race marker- all very well to hit splits in training but racing is a different beast- a famous coach used to say "you are what you are right now" find out what you are and out in the work to push on from there.

Oh and going out a blasting a 5 mile progression run after a nearly 3 mile race effort w/ pain in your glute is unbelievably silly- in fact kinda reminds me of a RK type rash activity (before he got smart, became AMK and started kicking ass

. I'm sorry to be harsh here Ososlo but you need a kick in the ass tbh. Backslapping here will do nothing for you.

ha ha and i wouldn't have expected any less from you kind sir.

1. I agree I shouldn't have DNF. I'm flawed. I'm mentally weak. Did I not make that clear already?
2. I am racing straight away again. Did I not say?
3. Yes I know it was silly to do a 5 mile reverse progression run. Did I not say that already? Any need to state the obvious?
4. I'm not asking for sympathy or backslapping. I hate it! Posting today was a very difficult thing for me to do as I don't do well with sympathy or failure. But what's the point in having a log if I only post the good stuff? Today I'm posting the bad stuff.

Laois_Man · 29-06-2014 07:53PM

Sorry today didn't go to plan.

I think you just need one reasonably good race to ease the worry of it all and then you'll fly on them all. Shouldn't have stopped - but you know that already

I think one of your lessons learned is wrong if I may say. I wouldn't have thought there's any such thing as going out too fast in the 5K distance.

tang1 · 29-06-2014 07:57PM

Laois_Man wrote: »

I think one of your lessons learned is wrong if I may say. I wouldn't have thought there's any such thing as going out too fast in the 5K distance.

There is if you know you cant sustain that pace for the whole race.

Laois_Man · 29-06-2014 08:12PM

tang1 wrote: »

There is if you know you cant sustain that pace for the whole race.

Why isn't banking some extra time in the first mile a perfectly valid race strategy over such a. short distance? Setting off at what you THINK is the pace you can sustain for an entire 5K can lead to you undercutting yourself. In my one and only 5K race, I ran 23:03 thinking at the start of the race that 24:29 would be an awesome result. If I had approached it in the manner you advocate, I'd have run at least a minute slower.

tang1 · 29-06-2014 08:24PM

Laois_Man wrote: »

I wouldn't have thought there's any such thing as going out too fast in the 5K distance.

Ok this is what you posted, your next 5k you go out at 5.30min/mile pace for the first mile and see how you get on. There is such a thing as going out to fast in a 5k if you cant sustain that pace.

drquirky · 29-06-2014 08:24PM

Ososlo wrote: »

ha ha and i wouldn't have expected any less from you kind sir.

1. I agree I shouldn't have DNF. I'm flawed. I'm mentally weak. Did I not make that clear already?
2. I am racing straight away again. Did I not say?
3. Yes I know it was silly to do a 5 mile reverse progression run. Did I not say that already? Any need to state the obvious?
4. I'm not asking for sympathy or backslapping. I hate it! Posting today was a very difficult thing for me to do as I don't do well with sympathy or failure. But what's the point in having a log if I only post the good stuff? Today I'm posting the bad stuff.

Haha

Na you aren't mentally weak, we all are- hell I get panic attacks in races, how ****ing weak is that lol. All I meant is HTFU is what's needed here- you only really learn that through racing- training and racing are so drastically different.

As far as the 5 mile progression run goes all well and good saying you know it's stupid. But as someone who's dealt with very serious running injuries (to the point of walking away from the sport for years ) I always try and point out to posters when I think they are doing something that could cause injury/ illness...

Good luck in your next one , ditch the watch, don't overthink and you'll smash it !

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 08:40PM

drquirky wrote: »

Haha

Na you aren't mentally weak, we all are- hell I get panic attacks in races, how ****ing weak is that lol. All I meant is HTFU is what's needed here- you only really learn that through racing- training and racing are so drastically different.

As far as the 5 mile progression run goes all well and good saying you know it's stupid. But as someone who's dealt with very serious running injuries (to the point of walking away from the sport for years ) I always try and point out to posters when I think they are doing something that could cause injury/ illness...

Good luck in your next one , ditch the watch, don't overthink and you'll smash it !

I am mentally weak. If I wasn't I would have finished the race today. I have a bad attitude. I wouldn't have been happy with anything less than a 2 min pb today and that's a bad attitude. I've been through HTFU many many time over the past few months banging out reps of 400s 800s and 1600s in parks throughout Dublin and being at the puking/crying stage many many times. so I thought I was mentally well prepared. As I said, I'm learning. I'm really new to all of this and a few months ago, would never have considered being able to do 4 sub 8 min miles (yeah laugh all you want) in training, but I did it twice. So I was confident of my target today.
The progression run today was like my double vodka and coke. I had to knock it back to get my fix and it worked. I felt better after it. I belted out the door in frustration and hit Ikea in lightening speed (slower than my predicted race pace though:rolleyes:). I said it was a silly run earlier but I was willing to suffer the consequences.
Days like today and subsequent replies leaves one wondering should one just knock the log on the head and go quietly about one's business and return in a few months in a more positive frame of mind. However, maybe that's just chickening out and I need to HtFU here too. I like to have an honest log but I'm just not sure if it's the way forward.
I agree with a lot of what you've said but sometimes perhaps you should consider more deeply what you're saying and how it might impact on people. I laid out very clearly where I went wrong today which was almost exactly what your response to me said. Did I need to hear it again from someone else? Maybe.

Laois_Man · 29-06-2014 08:41PM

tang1 wrote: »

Ok this is what you posted, your next 5k you go out at 5.30min/mile pace for the first mile and see how you get on. There is such a thing as going out to fast in a 5k if you cant sustain that pace.

Seeing as I can't run at 5:30 mile pace, that would be rather impossible. I went out as fast as I possibly could (with an injury too)....which is the same idea for everyone regardless of their level.

drquirky · 29-06-2014 08:47PM

Ososlo wrote: »

I am mentally weak. If I wasn't I would have finished the race today. I have a bad attitude. I wouldn't have been happy with anything less than a 2 min pb today and that's a bad attitude. I've been through HTFU many many time over the past few months banging out reps of 400s 800s and 1600s in parks throughout Dublin and being at the puking/crying stage many many times. so I thought I was mentally well prepared. As I said, I'm learning. I'm really new to all of this and a few months ago, would never have considered being able to do 4 sub 8 min miles (yeah laugh all you want) in training, but I did it twice. So I was confident of my target today.
The progression run today was like my double vodka and coke. I had to knock it back to get my fix and it worked. I felt better after it. I belted out the door in frustration and hit Ikea in lightening speed (slower than my predicted race pace though:rolleyes:). I said it was a silly run earlier but I was willing to suffer the consequences.
Days like today and subsequent replies leaves one wondering should one just knock the log on the head and go quietly about one's business and return in a few months in a more positive frame of mind. However, maybe that's just chickening out and I need to HtFU here too. I like to have an honest log but I'm just not sure if it's the way forward.
I agree with a lot of what you've said but sometimes perhaps you should consider more deeply what you're saying and how it might impact on people. I laid out very clearly where I went wrong today which was almost exactly what your response to me said. Did I need to hear it again from someone else? Maybe.

Fair enough. I won't post on this log anymore as the last thing I want to do is hurt feelings (I actually do mean that). Best of luck...

HelenAnne · 29-06-2014 08:48PM

Ososlo wrote: »

I am mentally weak. If I wasn't I would have finished the race today. I have a bad attitude. I wouldn't have been happy with anything less than a 2 min pb today and that's a bad attitude. I've been through HTFU many many time over the past few months banging out reps of 400s 800s and 1600s in parks throughout Dublin and being at the puking/crying stage many many times. so I thought I was mentally well prepared. As I said, I'm learning. I'm really new to all of this and a few months ago, would never have considered being able to do 4 sub 8 min miles (yeah laugh all you want) in training, but I did it twice. So I was confident of my target today.

Just write it off as a bad race. But I know how you feel -- I think sometimes when you really, really think you've covered something specific in training and then it doesn't work out in a race you can get a real mental wobble. The two things I found toughest in the marathon last year -- and they really colored my thinking about it for months after -- were 1) getting to the section around Terenure where I run all the time from work, thinking I'd feel great because it was familiar, and when I didn't, really panicking, and 2) underestimating how I'd feel after 20 miles in a race situation; in training I'd often feel tired at 15 or 16 miles, but really get a second wind around mile 19-20. When I didn't get a second wind in the actual marathon, it sort of broke my spirit! I know a 5k is different to a marathon, but you've trained so hard for 5k I completely understand that not feeling the results of that training in the race can be very demoralizing. The next one will go better -- if you feel bad, just tell yourself that if you don't feel like dying / stopping in a 5k then you're not running fast enough. And well done on the log!

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 09:01PM

drquirky wrote: »

Fair enough. I won't post on this log anymore as the last thing I want to do is hurt feelings (I actually do mean that). Best of luck...

I don't care if you hurt my feelings. I just want it to be all about my 'running' and not other things and I welcome anything that helps my running. Feel free to post your thoughts if you have anything helpful that can help. All imput is appreciated as long as it's directed to me and my running.
I actually do mean that

yaboya1 · 29-06-2014 09:25PM

I'm wondering whether I should post this or not??

I think you gave up far too easily. Definitely need a bit of HTFU in there. Everybody hits bad patches in races at some stage, and drawing on the experience of how you got through those tough moments the last time you encountered them in a race is a great motivator (for me anyway). The next time you hit a bad patch in a race, dropping out will be at the forefront of your mind again as that's what you did here and it could start becoming a very bad habit. I don't think you can blame your injury either as you went out and did the five mile run later the same day.

Sorry if I sound extraordinarily harsh, but you did say you wanted honest opinion about your running and advice that might improve it. That's my two cents worth.

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 09:33PM

yaboya1 wrote: »

I'm wondering whether I should post this or not??

I think you gave up far too easily. Definitely need a bit of HTFU in there. Everybody hits bad patches in races at some stage, and drawing on the experience of how you got through those tough moments the last time you encountered them in a race is a great motivator (for me anyway). The next time you hit a bad patch in a race, dropping out will be at the forefront of your mind again as that's what you did here and it could start becoming a very bad habit. I don't think you can blame your injury either as you went out and did the five mile run later the same day.

Sorry if I sound extraordinarily harsh, but you did say you wanted honest opinion about your running and advice that might improve it. That's my two cents worth.

I agree.
You're not being harsh, however, I reiterate what I said earlier: I'm not blaming my accident at work. It didn't impact on my physically today to any real extent. I think I made that clear in my post. I'm not looking for excuses.
I gave up because I wasn't on target for the time I wanted/felt I deserved and yes that was a really bad reason to give up. I could have run a one minute pb and should have been very happy with that.
I had overrated expectations of what I felt I should achieve. I need to be more realistic. Thanks. I appreciate it. I thought I had laid out my case very clearly in my initial post, but maybe I didn't. And to re-iterate, I'm really not looking for backslapping and I don't think people mean it that way.

yaboya1 · 29-06-2014 09:36PM

Ososlo wrote: »

I agree.
You're not being harsh, however, I reiterate what I said earlier: I'm not blaming my accident at work. It didn't impact on my physically today to any real extent. I think I made that clear in my post. I'm not looking for excuses.
I gave up because I wasn't on target for the time I wanted/felt I deserved and yes that was a really bad reason to give up. I could have run a one minute pb and should have been very happy with that.
I had overrated expectations of what I felt I should achieve. I need to be more realistic. Thanks. I appreciate it. I thought I had laid out my case very clearly in my initial post, but maybe I didn't. And to re-iterate, I'm really not looking for backslapping and I don't think people mean it that way.

But now your PB is still the one that you had before yesterday (and would have beat if you had continued). Even if you did finish the race and take less off it than you wanted, wouldn't that give you a better target to beat next time?

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 09:38PM

yaboya1 wrote: »

But now your PB is still the one that you had before yesterday (and would have beat if you had continued). Even if you did finish the race and take less off it than you wanted, wouldn't that give you a better target to beat next time?

yes I appreciate that now in hindsight. I didn't at the time. Again, I think i said that in my initial post.
I regretted it almost immediately.

yaboya1 · 29-06-2014 09:39PM

Ososlo wrote: »

yes I appreciate that now in hindsight. I didn't at the time. Again, I think i said that in my initial post.
I regretted it almost immediately.

Well at least that's something. We learn from our mistakes.
Good luck in your next race

Tom Joad · 29-06-2014 09:50PM

Firstly - don't even think of stopping to log here - too many people enjoy it. Let's face it the best logs have some incredible ups and down but like in the cheesy films the hero (you in this case

) after a few hairy moments always comes good. - you will too.

Secondly, you share a lot on your log - that's not a criticism by the way. Others -myself being an example of this - say had a bad day, felt crap but I'll get over sort of stuff and get away with murder. Because of the honesty you put in your posts you get away with nothing. RK's log used to be like that - and he took an awful lot of analysis and criticism because of it. It's because people are rooting for you and mean well don't forget.

I have been doing a bit of navel gazing about my running lately especially as I have made a mess of/underperformed in at least 75% of the races I've done in the last 12 months. I've taken long walking breaks in 3 races in the last 12 months and they do dent the confidence. I've tried to put these to the back of my mind but they do pop in when the going gets tough not matter how well you are doing in training.

My conclusions are as follows:

I don't race enough so not getting enough practice at racing - training is no real preparation for how mentally tough racing is. Racing is the best training for racing.
Because I race so few times, I put extraordinary pressure on the races I do as I've prepared so long for them and have over thought them. If I raced more often especially over 5 and 10k I would relax and by the law of averages would have a few good races .
I find myself finding excuses not to race and am waiting for the perfect race in terms of course flatness etc etc. to avoid racing.

I'm posting this here as some of this might resonate with you (and nobody reads my log!!)

menoscemo · 29-06-2014 10:02PM

Ososlo wrote: »

I gave up because I wasn't on target for the time I wanted/felt I deserved and yes that was a really bad reason to give up.
.

I've been guilty of this in the past in a 5k

In fact, I only later realised I misread the watch and was actually on target for a PB (at 2.2 miles

:o:o)

The solution is either to not wear the Garmin or learn to race (5ks especially) without looking at it/depending on it for feedback.

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 10:03PM

Tom Joad wrote: »

Firstly - don't even think of stopping to log here - too many people enjoy it. Let's face it the best logs have some incredible ups and down but like in the cheesy films the hero (you in this case ) after a few hairy moments always comes good. - you will too.

Secondly, you share a lot on your log - that's not a criticism by the way. Others -myself being an example of this - say had a bad day, felt crap but I'll get over sort of stuff and get away with murder. Because of the honesty you put in your posts you get away with nothing. RK's log used to be like that - and he took an awful lot of analysis and criticism because of it. It's because people are rooting for you and mean well don't forget.

I have been doing a bit of navel gazing about my running lately especially as I have made a mess of/underperformed in at least 75% of the races I've done in the last 12 months. I've taken long walking breaks in 3 races in the last 12 months and they do dent the confidence. I've tried to put these to the back of my mind but they do pop in when the going gets tough not matter how well you are doing in training.

My conclusions are as follows:
I don't race enough so not getting enough practice at racing - training is no real preparation for how mentally tough racing is. Racing is the best training for racing.

Because I race so few times, I put extraordinary pressure on the races I do as I've prepared so long for them and have over thought them. If I raced more often especially over 5 and 10k I would relax and by the law of averages would have a few good races .

I find myself finding excuses not to race and am waiting for the perfect race in terms of course flatness etc etc. to avoid racing.

I'm posting this here as some of this might resonate with you (and nobody reads my log!!)

ha ha great constructive post. And I read your log!!! Every single post! You've a great log!
Yes I put a lot out there and usually have to severely edit my initial posts as I put WAY too much out there. My log would be closed down by now if I didn't heavily edit:eek:
I agree, I'm leaving myself open to attack so should be willing to accept the inevitable. I don't believe in doing things willy nilly though. I either do it properly or I don't. I didn't have to post my race today. Only Stazza and 2 other posters knew I was doing it and they would have kept quiet. I weighed it up and decided to just post it as it was because I've always been honest on my log before.
No excuses, just plain and simply as it was. I didn't want to post the stuff about my accident at all but it happened and it's part of my running as it impacted on my race prep so I posted it. I didn't post it to make excuses.
I'm only starting to race this year so have a lot to learn so I have no doubt that racing experience is what I need. We can all agree on that one;)
Thanks again for the post, much appreciated.

I'll read it properly again and take it al in when I've finished the pb wine

FITZA · 29-06-2014 10:05PM

Mile 1: 7:40 - bang on and felt good (first k was done in 7:20 pace which was WAY too fast for me).

The first 1k was all downhill, and a very fast downhill....maybe that downhill had a negative effect?...so that when you hit the incline just after the 1k mark it hurt more than you expected?
Your log is very honest...the good, bad and ugly....which is why I read it

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 10:08PM

FITZA wrote: »

Mile 1: 7:40 - bang on and felt good (first k was done in 7:20 pace which was WAY too fast for me).

The first 1k was all downhill, and a very fast downhill....maybe that downhill had a negative effect?...so that when you hit the incline just after the 1k mark it hurt more than you expected?
Your log is very honest...the good, bad and ugly....which is why I read it

yeah maybe had a negative effect and maybe set me up for a bit of a fall.
Went out too fast for sure for that first k.
thanks for the comments. Hopefully there'll be some 'good' soon or readership will fall:eek:

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 10:10PM

menoscemo wrote: »

I've been guilty of this in the past in a 5k
In fact, I only later realised I misread the watch and was actually on target for a PB (at 2.2 miles :o:o)

The solution is either to not wear the Garmin or learn to race (5ks especially) without looking at it/depending on it for feedback.

yeah good point about the watch. i need to learn to race too for sure.
That must've been a bit of a bummer. Did you drop out like the mentally weak and htfu lacking Ososlo though? Bet you kept going.

HelenAnne · 29-06-2014 10:17PM

yaboya1 wrote: »

I'm wondering whether I should post this or not??

I think you gave up far too easily. Definitely need a bit of HTFU in there. Everybody hits bad patches in races at some stage, and drawing on the experience of how you got through those tough moments the last time you encountered them in a race is a great motivator (for me anyway). The next time you hit a bad patch in a race, dropping out will be at the forefront of your mind again as that's what you did here and it could start becoming a very bad habit. I don't think you can blame your injury either as you went out and did the five mile run later the same day.

Sorry if I sound extraordinarily harsh, but you did say you wanted honest opinion about your running and advice that might improve it. That's my two cents worth.

It's a learning experience -- I dropped out of the Pride run last year (similar thing - slight injury, just feeling sluggish in race etc). I was afraid it would become a pattern, but instead, the next time I felt awful in a race I was able to draw on how bad I'd felt after dropping out that time and it spurred me on to at least finish. And usually once you get over the 'I want to stop' hump in a race you get your mojo back and start racing it again.

menoscemo · 29-06-2014 10:30PM

Ososlo wrote: »

Did you drop out like the mentally weak and htfu lacking Ososlo though? Bet you kept going.

They don't call me DNF meno for nothing. I dropped out and walked a shortcut back to the finishline

:o

HelenAnne · 29-06-2014 10:39PM

Also, I know it's not for everyone, and I know you like running alone, but joining a club and wearing club colors in races makes it VERY hard to stop and walk or drop out (well, it makes it had for me, anyway). Just a suggestion!

wowzer · 29-06-2014 10:39PM

Dont throw the towel in on the log just yet, it's by far the most interesting log on here. Bad day at the office today, dust yourself off and move on.

TRR · 29-06-2014 10:41PM

You are over thinking things. This is supposed to be fun!
Telling yourself you are mentally weak is a self fulfilling prophecy.
Drquirky is right we are all mentally weak. The trick is learning how to override those negative vibes. You say you have no issues hitting sessions in training. Your weakness apparently is in races. I'm not going to tell you to race more as you should follow whatever your coach says and disregard others BUT it may be something you guys need to look at. No use training your backside off for months and then blowing it in your goal race as you aren't race ready and haven't learned how to deal with your perceived deamons! It really is a simple sport. Run more/smarter get faster. Race more get better at racing!

Ososlo · 29-06-2014 10:41PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

Also, I know it's not for everyone, and I know you like running alone, but joining a club and wearing club colors in races makes it VERY hard to stop and walk or drop out (well, it makes it had for me, anyway). Just a suggestion!

good point. If I ever do decide to join a club it'll definitely be yours. I've only ever heard great things about it.

Be still my beating heart

Comments