Track Blog #2 – Figuring out that whole racing thing again

By Brenna Cohoon

On the day before a track meet, the Lady Mustangs of Downers Grove South are ready to race. 

Our pre-meet practice routine during the track season is very similar to that of cross country in terms of training.  We complete a short run to shake out the legs, then finish up with a motivational activity.  However, unlike cross country season, we do not have pasta parties during track.  The evening before a race is entirely in an individual’s hands. We must ensure that we prepare adequately by getting plenty of sleep, thinking positively, and eating well.  I typically go for a simple meal that includes bread and pasta. So for me, things in the winter and spring aren’t much different than in the fall!

The morning of a track meet goes pretty similarly to a cross country meet, as well.  I wake up early and eat my typical fuel of a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter - nothing too exciting!  Once ensuring that everyone has arrived at school to catch the team bus on time, we embark on our journey to wherever we are competing.  This past weekend, we had a fairly relaxed drive out to Batavia High School without the blaring music and screaming.  We did still listen to some music in order to get pumped up, but we played it pretty quietly.  I guess you could say that the sprinters, jumpers, and throwers bring some sanity to the team - we distance runners need to calm down sometimes!

Things went alright last Saturday at the Batavia Quad.  I competed in the 1600 Meter Run and 4x400 Meter Relay.  I did not perform as well as I had hoped. 

I struggled with a bad cold throughout the week, and my body had not fully recovered from it by the time the meet arrived.  Although I should not be expecting to run a personal best every single weekend, especially this early in the season, I was still disappointed with how I raced.  After the first meet, I thought that I had this whole racing thing figured out completely - or, at least, understood it better than ever before. 

It turns out, I was wrong!

I did discover, however, that there is always something to learn as a runner.  It is impossible to run a flawless race every time you get out there.  For now, I am proud of how I pushed the pace in the beginning and middle of the race instead of settling, which would have been so much easier mentally.  I now know that I need to focus even more on finishing my race with a powerful kick.  That is something I will have to practice every meet and consistently improve upon.  I also discovered that with every race, I learn more about myself as a person.  This meet reminded me that I need to believe in myself at any given moment in order to succeed.

Even though I did not achieve what I had hoped for, I was amazed by the performances of my teammates and how they displayed grit throughout each of their races.  They constantly inspire me to achieve more and do it not only for myself, but for them, as well.

I used Sunday as a day to unwind.  I had reflected upon my race enough and needed to move on in a positive direction.  I went to church, attended a yoga class with some of my teammates, learned more about essential oils, ran through a wind tunnel, and did some studying.  When the day concluded, I felt like I had accomplished a lot. 

The best thing is, everything I did was meant to better me in one way or another.

My main method for unwinding both mentally and physically was through our yoga class.  For the past year, I have attended yoga classes with my teammates during winter running, through the track season, and over the summer.  Yoga has been able to provide me with physical challenges, manipulating my body in ways I never have before.  It typically leaves me sore (in a good way!) yet satisfied.  I have noticed that the same perseverance it takes to get through tough training or racing is used to hold certain poses.  I use the time in each class to clear my mind and focus purely on what my body is doing.  I do not worry about my times or my grades or any other stressors in my life.

As always - but especially this Sunday - I left yoga feeling extremely refreshed.  I was proud of some poses that I improved upon and at more peace with myself in terms of how Saturday’s meet went.  I reminded myself once again that it was incredibly early in the season.  As much as I would like to perform my very best in terms of time at all points throughout the season, one meet in February where I did not reach my high expectations of myself is not the end of the world. 

I am much more concerned with what happens in May.  These mental obstacles will only motivate me for the future and continue to teach me lessons about myself.  After all, I was only one second off of both of my personal bests last Saturday - I just got carried away with the disappointment of not meeting my own goals.

Taking things one day at a time, one meet at a time, I am incredibly excited to compete at the North Central College Invite this Thursday!  Just like every meet, this is a spectacular opportunity for me to challenge myself.  I am excited to race against some of the best runners in the state and give it all I’ve got.  That is all I can truly ask of myself, anyways.

Photo Credit: ©2019 Laura Duffy