When I target races shorter than a half marathon, the plans include weekly speed work that I’ve really grown to enjoy. When I’ve hit all the 200’s, 400’s, or 800’s at my target pace, I’m practically skipping all the way home on my cool-down jog. Even if the next day’s run is sluggish (it usually is), I’m still feeling pretty good about that track workout the day before.
However, when I first see the schedule showing something like 10 x 400’s, I try telling myself, “ten laps equals two and a half miles. That’s not too far”. But 5 laps into the workout and I’m starting to feel grateful for those walkers in the running lane. Even though running around them add a millisecond to my time, at least there will be someone to dial 911 when I collapse.
All drama aside, though, this is where the 5 tips below have always worked to keep me focused so I don’t just give up and head home early. The first tip reminds me of 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”. Tip #1 is to focus more on what the workout will do later. Not only will it build muscle and make me happy for a few days, but I’m also thinking of race day mentality. If I can do what’s on the schedule, I’ll show up to the race feeling prepared and ready to do my best. Then, during the race when I’m hurting and want to back off the pace, I’ll remember all the hard work at the track and not want to waste it by giving in to my fatigue. Not that day.
In relation to our spiritual lives, consistent track workouts can be like Bible study, prayer, daily control of emotions, choosing to do what is right instead of what is convenient, and resisting sin. All these things are difficult and sometimes painful but the joy of doing what you know the Lord wants you to do will strengthen your spirit. Then, when life turns into “race day” and you are hurting and fatigued, all your previous “training” can give you encouragement, peace, and confidence during great trials.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NASB)
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
5 Tips for Track Sessions
#1 Remember that these tough workouts are where your race is won. Whether you are out to beat your own best time or win the race, the track workout is key.
#2 If you always run the same direction on a track, try running the other direction. Not only does the scenery look different but your muscles will be worked evenly as running around the corners stresses one side of the body a little more than the other.
#3 Download theme songs from intense movies and pretend that you are in the movie. Yep, the world is depending on you to run really fast. 8 to 10 times. Or you can be Rocky. Either way, it works.
#4 The workout is tough but look forward to those golden moments when you feel yourself flying around the corner or down the straight away. Better yet, get out there and make those moments happen.
#5 Instead of thinking about how many 200’s or 400’s you still have to do, just focus on one rep at a time. Sometimes, when I’m exhausted, I even tell myself I can go home after the next one. What happens though, is that after that one, I always feel like I can do another and another and so on until the reps are done. And that feels pretty amazing.
BONUS TIP: If you have kids, bring them! They can chase you with water guns (in summer), burn off some of their crazy, be unplugged, and train if they like to race too. There’s more than a couple birds with one stone right there.
Happy Running!
