Looking for some advice, over the past couple of years i seem to be stopping mid race and then stop starting to the finish. I have done the training leading up to the races but on the day it all goes wrong, pacing isn't and issue as it is happening early into the race. Any suggestions/ideas how I can get back to trying to race through the mental barrier. I get to the end of the race but the times don't justify the hard work put in.
Frustrated and looking for advice on getting out and running a race correctly.
Comments
How long are the races you do?
Don't stop.
God we all want to stop - but know we'll regret it later. Last marathon I was planning my abandon in mile 1 but never did and never have.
Do you trust in your training ? You say pacing isn't an issue.
Maybe try some parkruns to get used to 'racing' more often so you can practice your strategies and rebuild your confidence.
Good luck with it.
I guess the moral of the above story is that mind games can be really helpful. Instead of thinking about how far the entire race is, can you try telling yourself 'just run for 1 more mile', then when you get there, 'just another mile' (or 'another few minutes')? I also find it helps to pick on someone else who's running at my preferred pace and follow them – enables you to switch off a bit.
Do keep an eye on your pace at the beginning, too. Maybe you are going out too fast, even if you don't think you are – it's so easily done in races, as a lot of people do the same, and it's all too tempting to follow them, then regret it later. Sometimes it doesn't even feel that fast at first, as you're caught up in the atmosphere and the adrenaline is flowing, but a small increase in pace can make a massive difference!
If its an occasional 10K then I'm with Cougie - just get a grip and tough it out, but if its a marathon then we've all been there.
So, a bit more detail might help, but not a swamppost please.
forget times just focus on not stopping, marathons are bloody tough so don't feel bad about that. Focus on a shorter race, 10 or even 5k to break the habit and build from there.
Can you mentally break the race down into segments and build up the not stopping e.g. if your local park run is 3 laps can you start off not stopping on lap 1? then buold to la[p 2 and finally not stopping at all
hope this helps
You could make the target of your next race to run the whole thing, no matter how slowly, so you have no excuse to let yourself walk or offer to pace a new/slower runner, maybe someone looking to break 60 mins for the 10k and make that your focus or make yourself accountable in a way that matters to you - I often ask myself if I really want to come on the forums and post a race report including the fact that I walked when I didn't have any real reason to do so.
What makes you stop? Like Cougie it quite often crosses my mind to do so but then I run a little mental inventory - legs feel ok, breathing's ok, so why do you want to walk? - and it usually passes
I'd use a race as training - so you don't go flat out - your goal is to get the miles in your legs. Just slowing a tiny bit makes the run that more enjoyable.
And do you think you're going into the races tired ? You only do 4 sessions a week and 2 are hard - are the others easy enough ?