Many of you know by now that I’m a running coach. And if you didn’t, well now you do. I like to help people succeed in competition, racing, and general fitness.
I’ve been coaching private clients for the last ten years, and I’ve been the head coach of two high school teams (cross country and track & field) for the last five. Out of all my jobs and careers through my life, coaching is by far my most favorite. Don’t get me wrong, it can be incredibly stressful at times. There are ups and downs just like in any job role. And it’s not the most lucrative job in the world. But it’s extraordinarily fulfilling and the majority of the time it’s tons of fun. I honestly wouldn’t trade it for the world. As a coach, it’s my job not only to give my athletes quality workouts, but at times I’m also a cheerleader, psychologist, parent, and/or friend. I often find myself giving pep talks to athletes of all ages. And since we’re in the thick of racing season from marathons all the way down to the 100m dash, I thought it would be fitting to give the proverbial pep talk to help you achieve your goals this spring.
Check out these three tips that can help you find the fun in racing!
This post is sponsored by adidas. I receive a gift card as a partner with the adidas blogger community. All content and opinions are my own.
Three Tips to Find the Fun in Competition and Racing
Comparison is the thief of joy
We’ve all heard this one before. Comparison is the thief of joy. And it’s true, it is. But as an athlete it’s almost impossible not to compare yourself to others. My high school athletes are quite literally racing opponents to compare themselves and see who is faster or who can throw or jump farther in order to get to the state competition. My adult clients are typically racing against themselves, but nevertheless find themselves playing the comparison game when they step to the line for a BQ attempt to secure their spot in the iconic marathon.
You might be asking yourself, “so, how do I not compare myself to someone else?” While all competition does contain a facet of comparison, you don’t have to let your entire training cycle be influenced by someone else’s. Finding joy in the process and satisfaction in a few small goals along the way will help you become the best athlete you can be, while giving you the confidence you need to face your opponent, be it yourself or your nemesis from a neighboring town.
Trust your training
We’ve all been there. Weeks and weeks of hard training, all to culminate in one race. Having one race as the end goal has the unfortunate ability to send us into a mental tailspin. In the biz, this is known as the taper crazies. But before you let yourself get all wound up, take inventory of all the things you’ve learned and accomplished through your training cycle. Now put that into perspective — your body has likely undergone very real, physiological changes through the process as well. You need to put weight in that and trust that all those changes will help you succeed.
A tip to avoid the crazies? Don’t rely on just one single race to achieve your goal, and make sure your goal is realistic. But above all else, trust your training.
Run for fun, not competition
A really great way to get out of your own way and enjoy our beautiful sport? Run for fun! Competing is all well and good, and it really can be fun. But when you find yourself comparing, second guessing your training, and generally no longer having fun, it’s time to dial back the seriousness and enjoy the sport for the fun of it. Sign up for a costumed 5K, or if you’re a high school track runner, try running in a different race you’ve never done before. Mix things up and keep them interesting. When running/racing gets too serious, it’s time to infuse our sport with some fun. So do yourself a favor every now and again and run for fun, not competition.
I hope these reminders help you get back into the groove with your training and racing. After all, running should be fun!
Check out these women’s tracksuits from adidas to infuse a little more fun into your training!
Happy training!
I’m linking up with Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner, Mile by Mile, and Runs with Pugs for the Runners’ Roundup!
