Going back to The previous post on trying to stay positive in the competitive season, I'm going to take a look at the performance of runners in the last few months of their last season. This may not happen to all runners but to those that it does this is angled to those runners. Whether you struggle to put good races together in that last season, or it is a injury that is causing a utter hell over your season. Sometimes it is just complacency that overwhelms us and we believe it is supposed to come naturally to us sense we have been doing this for years now. All in all there are many ways to look at it.

Lets start with not being able to perform in a race or even just the workouts. This on i have seen with many seniors either struggling with some illness or just kicking back and enjoying the ride. Sometimes this goes back to the runner thinking that he should be capable to do the work just can't keep his mind in the right place at the right time. Other times physically they are unable to do the work, whether it may be becoming iron deficient or some muscle problem. It is not always the runners problem and what is going on in their mind, But their are thinks that are going to help the situation. This goes back to the fundamentals of training with getting the appropriate amount of sleep, eating right, stretching every night, and completing every assignment that your coach gives. This is not saying to be number one and two every work out, it just means putting your heart and effort into every workout.

I'm not trying to say that you don't do everything correct already, but it is good to take an evaluation of where you currently are at and take some action. Like i said in a previous post "you are not doing everything right, if your not preforming your best". Just go back a few weeks and take a look at what you have done, worked for, and the little things that you sacrifice to become the best runner that you can be.This is why training log is so important to becoming successful. To be able to look back on previous workouts, routine things that you worked on, or simply how much sleep you got in the past week. This is not only useful it is also a huge confidence builder for future races in seeing how much you have come as a runner. Really for my size and talent i was at my peak when i knew what i had done in past weeks. Well i think that is enough about the little thinks lets get into the races and the mind set of completing these races.

Starting off i can't lie i was defiantly a racer. I could have a horrible week with little sleep, slow mileage, and pour workouts then come back that weekend at the top of my game. You could say it wasn't fair to most, but there were two things that i thought about when i step to the line. First, that i belong on this line and i have put in the work in previous weeks before this and i was as much prepaid as they were. Second, is not thinking trying to pass people but to run with them to put them in as much pain as yourself and then have the guts over come them. Going to every race with this confidence was my key to making it through every race. Sure a team fluctuates from time to time with teammates having exceptional days but as long as you put yourself out there with the best odds thats all that matters. Sometimes it is necessary to block it all out for some races and work off of your teammates and go from their, it just depends on what kind of runner you are. Personally i believe in team building and working together in races and following each other lead, but at times you need to carry for yourself when a foe may pass you and you need to fight back. This is what i am talking about is just the fight with in and the will to fight back to everyone that tries to inflict pain upon you.

Well i will stop rambling and just finish with, there are somethings that are going to hold you back and you need to go back to taking care of the body to over come those trials. With everything else it is just going back to your roots of why we run, for the pure pleasure to beat another on the course or track. Just dig, dig,dig, deep down to find that fight that you once had and bring that to the table. Once you do that, and people will be second guessing your ability as a runner.

Going on the senior year of high school can have the positives and negatives. everything is coming down to the wire and getting a look at the next school to move on to. Sure there is plenty of time to goof  off and enjoy the year, but much expectations are still on the solders of those that lead. Being at the top of the tear can be at times difficult to cope with. When you go back to the earlier cross country racing days it seemed as if you showed up not knowing what happed and did the work. things went up and down, but gradually you get better at the sport. That being once you get up their you not only have the pressure from the coaches but also from yourself being one of the hardest cridict of all.

 It is not only just expecting to shine and be the best you have ever been, it is also just staying positive throughout the season. Once a couple slip ups happen the confidence level can damper really fast and cause some damage emotionally for there on out. After doing the same workouts over and over can also just get to your head thinking "that you should be able to do this and you feel there is no possible way". When you were young everything was new and exciting to see what happened each week. Whether it is going on trips with friends or just goofing off on long runs with other team mates. When the mind is still young it becomes board of the routine and just needs a change going into that last season.

Well enough with all the negative lets get to some solutions to some of these problems. First, and the easiest one is just, changing up the runs from time to time. this is one that never fails and  everyone enjoys exploring every once and a while. A little change of scenery can really make a deference. The next one is just bringing something along for those easy days, whether is is a tennis ball or a bottle to kick during the run. I love this because this changes the run to a game not so much thought on the pain. The last one for now is just getting together as a team and enjoying each others company. Whether it is going to dinner before each race and getting a solid meal, or arrange other activities out side of running. With these minor things can make the season bearable.

I will continue this with racing and the frustration of not being able to compete when it is necessary. There is a few things that you can work on build confidance before races and to make sure that you finish the season strong as possible.