And just like that today is the final day of summer.
Hello fall.
I’m excited for cooler running weather and I’ve already started adding canned pumpkin puree to my oatmeal for breakfast. I have one goal race for 2015 left on the calendar, the Harvest Half Marathon next weekend. My friend Tara is planning to pace me and I’m hoping to have a really strong race.
I’ve been trying not to psych myself up for the race too much though. I’ve noticed lately that the races I really care about running well (the Calgary half marathon and the Calgary 70.3) I wind up letting the pressure get to me at some point during the race. I take off too fast in search of the end goal. I at times let my expectations weigh on the day. For races where I am focused on the fun and enjoying the moment (Disney Half, Tinker Bell Half, Chinook Olympic) I feel like I’ve executed them better. Somehow I need to marry the importance to enjoying the moment. I need to trust myself that I can execute a great race and relax a bit more.
My moto for training and racing this year was that I wanted to go fast and take chances. I definitely have! Those chances haven’t always paid off but I think I’ve learned a lot from them. This was what 2015 was for. Now I just need to translate those lessons into steps forward.
How do you psych yourself up for a race…but not overdo it?
I’m linking up with MCM Mama, My No Guilt Life and Run the Great Wide Somewhere for Tuesdays on the Run.
I can’t believe that summer is over:( why is it that summer goes by so fast and the colder months seem to drag on. I do not have any big upcoming events the rest of yr. I’m just focusing on training for Goofy in January.
lacey recently posted…This my friends is one thing I can’t run without, can you?
I have not mastered the art of “not overdoing” it for big races. I have goal races and training races, and I tend to put way too much pressure on myself for goal races and it keeps backfiring on me! Just like you, the races I enjoy end up going so much better. Isn’t it funny how that works?!
Good luck this weekend! What a cap to a wonderful year of racing you have had!
Marilyn recently posted…THAT TIME I TRIED TRAIL RUNNING
I’m awful about psyching myself out for goal races. I tend to be faster if I go into a race to have fun. I think it’s because I run easier in the early miles and then have energy for the later miles.
MCM Mama Runs recently posted…Center of the Nation Series Half Marathon Day #5 – Nebraska