Blog 3: The Attitude of Gratitude.
This week many of us are realizing that we are upon what would have been the beginning of championship season during outdoor track. If you're like me, you're ready for the end of the semester, but you aren't exactly sure what your plans for the near future are. With some time to reflect, a lot has gone through my mind. However, in the end, I'm thankful-because I get to have experiences and teammates like these, even if I'm really missing them now.
Here is what my training consisted of this week. This week the weather didn't always cooperate, and I felt tired by the end of the week, so I listened to my body and took Sunday off. Tuesday I did one of my all-time favorite cross country workouts, hill repeats!
This is my training for the week of April 19th to April 25th.
Before each run I perform a glute and hip activation routine to help avoid injury. I also always encourage myself to stretch after.
Monday: 12 miles
AM-8 miles
Post run: Core
PM-4 miles
Post run: Strides, in-home gym routine, and stretching
Tuesday: 11 miles
Warm up: 3 miles
Hills- 5 miles of hills (hard up, easy down)
Cool down: 3 miles
Post run: Stretching, lower lumbar stabilization drills
Wednesday: 10 miles
MW long run
Post run: 10 min. core
Thursday: 12 miles
AM-8 miles
Post run: core
PM-4 miles
Post run: Strides, in-home gym, stretching
Friday: 9 miles
Warm up: 2 miles
Temp: 5 miles
Cool down: 2 miles
Post run: core
Saturday: 13
13-mile long run
Post run: stretching, core, lower lumbar stabilization drills
Sunday: Optional Day Off
Rest Day
Listen to your body. Time is in your side.For once, I don't have a race right around the corner. I don't know when my next race will be, and this allows me to focus on training, and if we get a little run down from training, there's no rush. There's no need to try to push through little aches and pains. I'm doing my best to be smart in my training, training as hard as I can while listening to the advice of my Coach, who always reminds me "listen to your body." My body will tell me when I'm ready to crush a workout, and it will tell me when I should back off. I am doing my best to use my own instincts to guide my training during this time whenmy coach is not here to see me every day. I am doing my best not to focus too much the number of miles in my log at the end of the week. Instead I am focusing on training ideally and listening to how I am feeling to help myself stay healthy during this long base training block.
With some time to think and reflect on my runs, I've realized there is so much for us to miss during this time. However, as the storybook writer A.A. Milne said, "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
I miss my coach and my team.Wow. I really miss seeing my coach and my team every day, and I suppose many of you do too. Although we have weekly zoom meetings and text often, I still can't wait for the next run when we are all together. I really miss our post-long run brunches, our game nights, traveling to meets, watching the Bachelor (even though I swore I would never watch that, only they could convince me), and training together. However, I am grateful that we can all connect virtually.
I am so sorry, seniors.Although everyone misses track season, I know that seniors feel the loss on a much deeper level. One of my very own teammates, who was in the shape of her life, cannot return next year as she was accepted in to the Master's of Nursing program at John Hopkins Medical School. As a senior take comfort in this: when we get to reflect on this time in our lives, or when I reflect on the seniors who helped lead me as a freshman in high school or a freshman in college, it is the positive impact they had on the team and me that I remember. I cannot tell you their PR's. The impact that we can have on our teammates, even during this time, is not taken away from us. Seniors, your teammates will still greatly appreciate all you did for them way beyond when they remember your personal bests or places in a race. I know I do.
This is my teammate, Gwynne, a senior who lost her final outdoor season, but has an exciting future ahead of her as she pursues her Master's of Nursing at John Hopkins Medical School. I am so thankful for her leadership and mentorship on our team. We are going to miss her. Photo Credit: Luke Lu/Kl6Photo
"The Attitude of Gratitude"In one of our team zoom meetings, my coach mentioned, "we wouldn't complain near as much when we could train together again." Who would have thought we would miss regimented schedules, long flights, 6 a.m. double days, or 8 a.m. classes, but I do. Our sports psychologist says that the best attitude one can be in for ideal performance is to be grateful. During this time, there's a lot of reasons we could be down and feel sorry for ourselves, but there are also many opportunities and moments to be grateful for. My current daily thoughts always include joy and gratitude. I am thankful to be among family. I am grateful to have time to rest and recharge. I find joy in my tempo runs, and my long runs with my brother and my teammate, Norah. So, my advice to myself (and to you if you are struggling during this time) is find what you are grateful for. Do what brings you joy. And train your butt off (while listening to your body of course), because this is just how life is.