Hey, guys!
I just got home from a week at Seattle Pacific University's Falcon Running Camp. It was an absolutely AMAZING experience. I got to meet some super cool people, including Doris Brown Heritage (the first woman ever to break 5 minutes in the mile), an Olympic javelin thrower, and legendary coach Pat Tyson. There were a ton of other great people running the camp, and there were also lots of speakers whose presentations discussed things like injury prevention, the mental side of running, proper form, visualization, drills, and much more. I'll be sharing a lot of the things I learned with you guys at practice the next few weeks, so be sure to show up! :)
The biggest things I took away from camp were these:
1. Do your work! Don't just run. I mean, of course you should run because if you're a runner you won't improve without running, but strive to do more. Strive for excellence. Do drills, strengthen your core and all the small muscles in your body that you don't usually think about. Practice your form and watch better runners to learn from them. Visualize your success and plan exactly how you're going to succeed. Push yourself physically and mentally. Train yourself to focus on your goals. If you put in the work, you will succeed.
2. Have courage. Face whatever it is that makes the pit of your stomach feel like a rock when you're standing on the starting line, whether it be the fear of not placing as high as you want, not qualifying for that big race, or simply not wanting to run at that moment in time. It's like that proverb, 'do one thing every day that scares you.' Every time you face down a fear, you get a little bit stronger.
3. Remember what you're running for, and always have fun! Cross country isn't an easy sport. Running isn't always a nice jog in the morning- it's tough to train hard and it requires dedication, focus, and sometimes making sacrifices. But as one of our presenters said, if you love running enough, sacrifices like having to get up early to run won't feel like a bad thing, because you enjoy the running. I acknowledge there are times when running sucks. It hurts, you can't breathe, you're injured, you have a bad race... I get it. But if you remember why you started running in the first place, you will be able to overcome pretty much anything. For me, it's the challenge. In cross country there's always more you can achieve- a faster time, a higher place, better form, a better race... There's always something to strive for, and that's what inspires me. So find what inspires you and what makes you love to run, and always keep it in your mind.
I really hope you guys take this advice to heart! See you all at the Menchie's run on Sunday!!
Friday, July 27, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Summer Mileage
The sun is shining, the smell of sunscreen is in the air, and people are walking around looking like lobsters. It would appear summer is finally upon us. So here's the deal, guys.
Whether you come to practice with the team or run on your own, getting in that summer mileage is SUPER INCREDIBLY VITALLY IMPORTANT for a number of reasons. First of all, it builds your endurance, and that's what long distance running is all about. If you're a runner who is only used to running a mile at a time, summer running will make it easier to adjust to a 3.1 mile race. Want proof? Just ask anyone that ran over the summer last year!
Another reason getting in your mileage is important is because it helps prevent injury. If you start running and getting in shape during the summer, you can steadily build up your mileage. A general rule exists that says you shouldn't increase your mileage more than 10% per week. If you start off with one mile at the beginning of the summer, you'll be perfectly ready for cross country season by September. But if you wait until after school starts, you could get injured trying to run too much before your body is ready for it.
Finally, running in the summer is fun. There's no pressure! You don't have to go fast or hard, you can just jog along and take in the scenery. You can run anytime, since there's no school to get in the way or your daily activities, and you can find a way to run anywhere.
Coach Greg likes to say, "We make Districts in July and August," meaning that summer training is what gets us stronger and ready to race.
So. Will YOU be ready?
Whether you come to practice with the team or run on your own, getting in that summer mileage is SUPER INCREDIBLY VITALLY IMPORTANT for a number of reasons. First of all, it builds your endurance, and that's what long distance running is all about. If you're a runner who is only used to running a mile at a time, summer running will make it easier to adjust to a 3.1 mile race. Want proof? Just ask anyone that ran over the summer last year!
Another reason getting in your mileage is important is because it helps prevent injury. If you start running and getting in shape during the summer, you can steadily build up your mileage. A general rule exists that says you shouldn't increase your mileage more than 10% per week. If you start off with one mile at the beginning of the summer, you'll be perfectly ready for cross country season by September. But if you wait until after school starts, you could get injured trying to run too much before your body is ready for it.
Finally, running in the summer is fun. There's no pressure! You don't have to go fast or hard, you can just jog along and take in the scenery. You can run anytime, since there's no school to get in the way or your daily activities, and you can find a way to run anywhere.
Coach Greg likes to say, "We make Districts in July and August," meaning that summer training is what gets us stronger and ready to race.
So. Will YOU be ready?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)