You’ve crossed the end line of your objective race, the mud has settled out of your post-race celebrations, and now it’s time to do some reflecting. Taking time to look again on each your coaching and your race to evaluate what labored properly and what didn’t is a crucial step if you wish to proceed to enhance. These eight questions will assist get you began.
What can I have a good time?
Earlier than you dissect something an excessive amount of, take a minute to have a good time what you completed. Even when your race didn’t go in addition to you’d hoped, attempt to select one or two issues that you just’re happy with.
Perhaps you didn’t hit your objective time, however you’re happy with your self for not giving up when issues weren’t going properly–and that deserves recognition. Or perhaps you lastly nailed your fuelling technique or managed your pre-race nerves higher than earlier than. No matter your wins have been, write them down and have a good time them.
How did your race play out vs. your race plan?
When you executed your race plan completely, nice job! Answering this query will probably be simple. If not, ask your self why it didn’t, and whether or not these elements have been inside your management. It’s one factor if the climate went sideways on race day, or should you tripped and fell midway to the end line. It’s one other factor should you look again on it and understand that perhaps your race plan wasn’t sensible, otherwise you made some early pacing errors that value you your objective time. If it’s the latter, then nice–these issues can simply be mounted for subsequent time.
What did you study throughout your coaching and race?
This query is deliberately broad, and can seemingly overlap with a few of your different solutions, but it surely’s an effective way to get you to begin pondering extra analytically about your race buildup. Was there something that stunned you throughout your coaching or on race day? In what methods did actuality differ out of your expectations?
Did you get pleasure from your coaching and race? Why or why not?
It’s actually vital to be sincere when answering this one. In fact, you seemingly didn’t get pleasure from each side of coaching, however attempt to establish what you probably did like and what you didn’t. If, for instance, you hated getting up early to run by your self at nighttime, perhaps subsequent time you possibly can be part of a gaggle to coach with or enlist a operating buddy to do some early morning runs with you.
What components have been robust?
That is particularly vital to consider within the context of your race. Did you wrestle with an enormous hill in the midst of the course? Perhaps you must do extra hill work throughout your subsequent coaching cycle. Was your race gas not happening so properly? Maybe you must experiment with some completely different choices subsequent time round. Did you wrestle with jet lag throughout your vacation spot race? You would possibly must plan just a little in another way subsequent time you journey for a race.
What did you do properly?
Though it sounds comparable, that is completely different than celebrating your wins. Go extra granular right here–you hit your objective time, however why? What did you do throughout your coaching or race that helped you accomplish that? You maintained a extra even tempo all through your entire run, moderately than slowing down within the center or finish–how come? What did you do in your coaching that improved your endurance?
The place is your greatest alternative to develop?
Now could be the time to determine what your most important focus will probably be throughout your subsequent coaching cycle. This may very well be something from enhancing your consistency to altering up your routine so you’ve extra enjoyable along with your coaching.
The place do you wish to be six months to a yr from now?
Envision the runner you wish to be sooner or later, and regulate your strategy accordingly.
