Weekend Race Recap + Trust Your Training

So I didn’t partake in the Runner’s World Streak, but I’ve had my own streak going–a race every weekend. It’s not something I intended to do, but it seems to be working for me! Racing every weekend is giving me a goal to work towards and benchmarks to track my progress. Unfortunately I’m not doing much more than a track workout on Thursdays and racing on the weekend–that schedule will change has to change soon so I can amp it up in preparation for marathon training.

Anyway, this weekend’s 5k was a little strange since I flew solo (Lance graciously stayed home with our sick little girl and the baby), but I have to admit it was a little freeing knowing that all I had to worry about was myself!

I had an awesome track workout on Thursday–4×400 and 4×800. I didn’t know what to expect because this is my first season doing actual track workouts, but my splits were much better than I though they would be, and the best part was that I felt great doing it. So these track workouts are not only conditioning my physically, but they are totally helping my mental game as well.

I planned on going out at a 7:40 pace and negative splitting from there with the goal of an overall pace of less than 7:30 and as close to 23 minutes as possible for my finishing time. I was a little discouraged in the first mile when my legs just wouldn’t move (don’t you just love that feeling) and my mile 1 split was 7:50. I let worry and doubt only enter my head for only a split second before I took control of my stride and cadence. I kept a close eye on my Garmin and knew I was making up time–my pace dropped to about 7:20–but could I hold it? That’s the problem with only doing two workouts a week!

I visualized my track workouts and recreated my stride. I convinced myself to trust my training and to believe that I have the ability to run this fast. I believe (and always have) that the mental component is just as strong as the physical and has the potential to make or break a race.

Guess what.

I held it.

I would cross the finish line at 22:47 feeling absolutely amazing about myself (isn’t that why we do these crazy things?!). I averaged 7:21/mile and felt so strong.

Mission accomplished this weekend! This week I actually will be adding a third run in the form of a hilly 10k on Monday night (part of the New York State Parks Summer Run Series). This race includes the aptly named Cardiac Hill, which I have strangely missed since I haven’t run this one in a while.

This post is linked up at Running ‘N’ Reading!

Did you race this weekend?

Is your Garmin always off? Mine has been off every race lately!

What do you think of my toes? It’s Tart Deco by Essie 🙂