[ZikTheProtagonist]

ZikTheProtagonist on April 8, 2010 at 10:19 am #16646

Starting these really big threads always leaves me feeling like I’m going in circles with what I’m saying. I post this in the Sprint section but it could possibly be put in any section as to better my performance.

I’ve ran consistently for five years, this season is the fifth of course. Every year I was always dismissed as 2nd or 3rd fastest possibly even 4th fastest with those one hit wonder kids that come in with natural talent. Its my senior year this year and I started off the season well with being the top on my team happily because the faster sprinters were always older and already graduated. Year round training since Freshmen summer until now seemed to have not paid off so well. As the runner up sprinter that hardly pushed me or his-self suddenly out did me right after spring break. And to note I did workout during spring break, and I’m not sure he attempted as much. It was shocking to see it happen, and I didn’t want to see it happen again even in interval workouts. Today he out did me once again and it was racing for spots on the relay. I tensed up at the last 30 meters extremely when I saw him stay with me at the 60, I usually breeze by him around 40m-60m. And the second I tensed up I saw him stride by easily with a significant gap in between us about 4-5 meters.

I was shocked as anyone would probably be, the only thing I could relate this to was a smaller scale Asafa Powell-Usain Bolt thing or Asafa Powell-Tyson Gay. This other sprinter I’ve raced against five times a week in practice or in meets and he’s never come close to being me last season or the beginning of this season he was still a good 5m-7m’s behind me as I ease in for a win.

Now I ask you how do I mentally and physically get back on track or any key notes I should keep repeating in my head.

Physical changes in the last few days or last week or two were listed here.
—————————————————————————–
– Faster start out the blocks, a possibly shorter drive phase and possibly a premature acceleration phase because I never in five years burnt out or decelerated noticeably at the end of 100M/200M until this tense up, or it could possibly be just a tense up.

– Re-occuring pain in my right foot that enhances over the season, started Sophomore year when I started training harder. Possible stress fracture but I keep getting it checked and its x-rayed as nothing. Every year after the season or near the end.

– My lunch before the season was salad with a bit of meat chopped up in it. When the season hit or a week in, I switched to one sandwich and banana or apple. The sandwich is wheat break, two turkey slices a piece of cheese and lettuce.

– Before big workouts I take a 5-hour energy shot. Or actually before this race about an hour before.

– Warming up I wore sweats and it was a bit breezy and a sunny today at around 55 degrees in Minnesota. Possibly over heating myself? The other sprinter wore a T-shirt and shorts only.

The other sprinter is about 5’3-5’4 and weighs I think 120-140 lbs

I’m at 6’0 185 lbs.

———————-

It could simply be he’s bested me twice, or he’s simply quicker. But if that is the case, I want to regain my place on my track team and I don’t know what else I could do. I don’t want to feel that my work for the past five years have been in vein when I’m so close to achieving a goal of mine.

[K Rackley]

K Rackley on April 9, 2010 at 5:08 pm #97046

I’m def not the person to answer a question like this but what kind of times are we talking about? what’s yours and his PR in the 100m and 200m?

[davan]

davan on April 9, 2010 at 5:14 pm #97047

The solution is easy:

1. Go to a meet with FAT timing. Preferably with this other person.

2. Run faster than that person and their personal best.

3. 55 degrees and you are worried about overheating? Is this a damn joke?

[Owen]

Owen on April 9, 2010 at 5:49 pm #97049

I think first solution…stop thinking. If you remember what the other guy was warming up in then you are paying too much attention to him!

Just turn up and run your race you have been working on in practice. If he beats you then he is better than you and vice versa. It’s been said many a time but it should not matter whether this guy runs 9.9s or 11.9s. Is he in your lane? Nope. Just do it.

[ZikTheProtagonist]

ZikTheProtagonist on April 10, 2010 at 12:48 am #97058

55 Degrees with multiple layers is still pretty warm for me, I’m taking medicine for other reasons that make me sweat generally more often then others and dehydrates me quickly which I’ve stopped talking starting today.

My 100M PR has been 12.0 Sophomore year sadly. I was a linemen since 8th grade and I did track to loose weight so my 100M time was around 13.5-15.0 seconds and such. Sophomore year was the only year I actually got a real sprinting time, and Junior year I had a series of injuries that didn’t allow me to workout for much of the offseason and season so I was running slower. This year I’ve been more explosive and in my best sprinting shape ideally.

His PR last year was 12.3-12.4 And the fastest I ran last year was a 12.1

This year I predict since most is going well, I’m sub 12s which is behind schedule because last year should’ve been like this.

[bales]

bales on April 10, 2010 at 1:30 am #97059

I think to be honest you have the wrong attitude about this whole thing, regardless of how hard you train for ‘most’ people there will always be someone who is faster than you, its part of life, its how you deal with it that usually seperates people.

You need to concentrate on what you are doing not someone else, he may well run faster than you this season but if you improve on your PB’s you can’t ask for anything else.

Also training is for training and racing is where it matters, who cares if he beats you in a session its ‘training’ just make sure he doesn’t beat you in a race!

Tbh it sounds like its more important for you to be seen as the ‘top’ sprinter rather than make genuine improvements to your times, the title of the thread is a bit of a giveaway for that!!

[ZikTheProtagonist]

ZikTheProtagonist on April 11, 2010 at 4:33 pm #97125

At the end of the day I feel fine with my PR’s consistently going down and his too, but that title of the faster one on the team was something of self accomplishment and pride because I’ve seen many people put on our schools uniform that were faster then me and to be considered one of the better sprinters of my team at my current peak and last year was a title I really wanted if you could understand that.

[davan]

davan on April 11, 2010 at 5:10 pm #97126

Transfer schools then.

Even a fast donkey is still a donkey. Worrying about how people perceive your “fastness” is a fruitless endeavor and, unless you are Bolt or someone of that nature, will never be the best and likely doubted by many. Run 9.57 and then, if you still feel disrespected, consider doing something new.

[trackspeedboy]

trackspeedboy on April 12, 2010 at 2:24 am #97138

Relax and run your own race. It’s as simple as that, if you can do just that. Obviously when you’re running, you’re “monitoring” this guy throughout the entire race, and that’s a problem…

Work on focusing on yourself only… OR…. sabotage him 😀 😉

[ZikTheProtagonist]

ZikTheProtagonist on April 13, 2010 at 3:12 pm #97216

Yeah, I usually focus on my own race every time I’ll just do it even in practice, I can’t even remember the faces of the people I raced against because I don’t look at anyone pre race while fixing blocks and such to keep my calm.

I also just got a MRI Scan today on that foot of mine and results in a few hours via phone from my doctor noting he found multiple areas that are possible stress fractures on my foot around 3-5 he said. So no more running until I see him again Wednesday and even then I feel my seasons already on thin ice.