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 perform a little reflecting. Taking time to appear again on each your coaching and your race to evaluate what labored neatly and what didn’t is a very powerful step if you wish to proceed to toughen. Those 8 questions will assist get you began.
What can I rejoice?
Sooner than you dissect the rest an excessive amount of, take a minute to rejoice what you achieved. Despite the fact that your race didn’t pass in addition to you’d was hoping, take a look at to pick one or two issues that you simply’re happy with.
Perhaps you didn’t hit your objective time, however you’re happy with your self for now not giving up when issues weren’t going neatly–and that merits reputation. Or possibly you in spite of everything nailed your fuelling technique or controlled your pre-race nerves higher than sooner than. No matter your wins have been, write them down and rejoice them.
How did your race play out vs. your race plan?
In the event you done your race plan completely, nice task! Answering this query might be simple. If now not, ask your self why it didn’t, and whether or not the ones elements have been inside your keep watch over. It’s something if the elements went sideways on race day, or should you tripped and fell midway to the end line. It’s some other factor should you glance again on it and notice that possibly your race plan wasn’t lifelike, otherwise you made some early pacing errors that value you your objective time. If it’s the latter, then nice–the ones issues can simply be fastened for subsequent time.
What did you be told all through your coaching and race?
This query is deliberately extensive, and can most probably overlap with a few of your different solutions, nevertheless it’s an effective way to get you to begin considering extra analytically about your race buildup. Was once there the rest that shocked you all through your coaching or on race day? In what techniques did truth fluctuate out of your expectancies?
Did you revel in your coaching and race? Why or why now not?
It’s in reality necessary to be truthful when answering this one. After all, you most probably didn’t revel in each and every 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 on your own at the hours of darkness, possibly subsequent time you’ll be able to sign up for a gaggle to coach with or enlist a operating good friend to perform a little early morning runs with you.
What portions have been tricky?
That is particularly necessary to take into accounts within the context of your race. Did you battle with a large hill in the midst of the path? Perhaps you will have to do extra hill paintings all through your subsequent coaching cycle. Was once your race gasoline now not taking place so neatly? Most likely you will have to experiment with some other choices subsequent time round. Did you battle with jet lag all through your vacation spot race? It’s possible you’ll want to plan slightly otherwise subsequent time you trip for a race.
What did you do neatly?
Even if it sounds identical, that is other than celebrating your wins. Cross extra granular right here–you hit your objective time, however why? What did you do all through your coaching or race that helped you achieve this? You maintained a extra even tempo all through all of the run, moderately than slowing down within the heart or finish–how come? What did you do to your coaching that progressed your staying power?
The place is your largest alternative to develop?
Now’s the time to make a decision what your primary focal point might be all through your subsequent coaching cycle. This might be the rest from bettering your consistency to converting up your regimen so you could have extra a laugh together with your coaching.
The place do you wish to have to be six months to a 12 months from now?
Envision the runner you wish to have to be someday, and alter your method accordingly.