Last week marked my second week of recovery and modified running schedule. I think that the schedule change was smart because I was getting really worn out and had way too many negative thoughts floating through my head. I have been dealing with negative thoughts for a while now. I honestly don't even know where they stem from! I have been told that I have too much extrinsic motivation and not enough intrinsic motivation. My head is creating physiological symptoms which give me an "out" when the going gets tough. I can honestly see this "issue" looking back, but seriously the whole compartment syndrome knocked the wind outta my sails.
With that being said it has been recommended that I see a sports psychologist. However, there aren't very many in Spokane and the one who was HIGHLY recommend is also training at the Olympic Traning Center in San Diego. With his chaotic schedule I doubt we will have the opportunity to even meet before Windermere. Even if we do meet, I doubt he can really get to the bottom of my insecurities by race day. I just keep telling myself THINK +++, THINK +++, THINK +++...
With that being said it has been recommended that I see a sports psychologist. However, there aren't very many in Spokane and the one who was HIGHLY recommend is also training at the Olympic Traning Center in San Diego. With his chaotic schedule I doubt we will have the opportunity to even meet before Windermere. Even if we do meet, I doubt he can really get to the bottom of my insecurities by race day. I just keep telling myself THINK +++, THINK +++, THINK +++...
Monday:
I was exhausted from having just run 22 miles the day before so my plan was to start running and just see how felt. Scheduled: 4 x 3 mile repeats at 7:00- 7:05 pace. What I did instead:
½ mile warm up
3 x 2 miles repeats (13:29, 13:30, 13:02)
½ mile cool down
15 minutes of core
Tuesday:
Easy 3 miles before FGF
FGF was a tough workout!!!!!!
Total time- 19:18
Wednesday:
I went up to Whitworth after work and ran with Matt on the trails in the area. I swear he was trying to kill me, but he said he was just breaking me out of my comfort zone. It was actually a fun run and it was good to catch up since I hadn’t seen him in person for a couple of months.
10 minutes of core when I got home
Thursday:
No FGF and instead I did an easy 3.51 shakeout run around downtown to the gym I just joined.
I did about 10 minutes of core and 15 minutes of light weights.
Friday:
Off! Worked all day and then drove to Wenatchee.
Saturday:
Wenatchee Marathon!!!! Recap in the works.
Sunday:
Active recovery day.
15 minutes of core + 15 minutes of extra foam rolling and stretching.
30 minutes on the stationary bike at the gym.
Questions for you:
Have you ever seen a sports psychologist before???
How do you keep the negative thoughts away when a workout goes "south"???
--Tasha
Active recovery day.
15 minutes of core + 15 minutes of extra foam rolling and stretching.
30 minutes on the stationary bike at the gym.
Questions for you:
Have you ever seen a sports psychologist before???
How do you keep the negative thoughts away when a workout goes "south"???
--Tasha
Oh goodness, I don't think negative thinking is a real struggle for me, but maybe that's because my expectations are so different from yours. I typically make sure that my goals are relatively easy, and I'm okay with skipping a training day if I feel like it. So...my laziness saves me from negative thinking????
ReplyDeleteBecky I need to hang out with you more. You are one of the most positive people that I have ever met. :-)
DeleteHaha! Becky, I like your thinking. I'm sorta the same way I'd rather have low expectations and surprise myself than set high expectations and fail.
DeleteYou'll have to let us know that goes, I've never heard of a sports psychologist! I've been watching my workouts and balancing different methods (via CPT studying) so that I don't burn out - one day horizontal loading, one day vertical, one day circuit, etc. I think my body gets bored easy!
ReplyDeleteI was kind of surprised to hear how popular sports psychologists are. We shall see if he emails me when he gets back from San Diego.
DeleteIve not ever seen one however that is one of the avenues I am seriously considering when I go back for my Masters. I know I will go back for a counseling/therapy degree as my BS is in psychology but as I draw from my own experiences and talk to so many other athletes I think this may be a direction I will go.
ReplyDeleteSo to try and give you a little encouragement remember this infamous...okay not infamous but still noteworthy quote from my old basketball coach. "It is not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog"
Tasha, in the year I've known you I can see the flame of desire in your heart to be the best you can be; you have the fight in you - sometimes we fear failure and sometimes we fear success; either fear causes us to retreat from what God has designed us to be. Trust Him and his plan for you! And lastly, be gentle with yourself; you are your best caregiver! Lots of LOVE to you!!!
You would be a wonderful therapist Marnee! I especially think that you would be able to easily relate to athletes. I have actually thought if I were to go back to school I would want to pursue something in the lines of sports psychology. Guess that I had better get my head on straight first!
DeleteThank you for your kind words. I know that I have fight in me, which is why I get so frustrated when I can't do something. I really think that my current training plan was just unrealistic to begin with. I will admit that I was giving up easily, probably too easily. I need to learn to be much more forgiving of myself. Something that I need to work on.
I have never seen a sports psychologist before but I think it would be helpful:) I always have negative thoughts running through my head when it comes to races. The thoughts usually stop as soon as I start the race, but not always:/ I will be curious to hear what he says if you end up seeing him:)
ReplyDeleteI will let you know if he emails me back. There aren't a lot in the area so if he doesn't contact me back I might be outta luck!
DeleteOur university sports psychologist used to visit us for about an hour weekly during the swim season. Seriously, if anything, I learned more about how much I psych myself out and make myself anxious before competing. She tried to teach us how to deal with these things, but it never worked for me. I think it may have if it were more one on one.
ReplyDeleteA lot of universities have them now. I didn't have one when I ran in college, but our school was pretty small for a division 1 university. I think I psych myself out even before race day. Hopefully I can learn what triggers that anxious/negative feeling so that I can overcome it.
DeleteHoly smokes!! You ran a 22 miler and a week later ran a marathon? You better be giving yourself some serious pampering girl!! You deserve it!!
ReplyDeleteI am excitedly looking for your recap, though I know it was more of a training run. I am impressed that you did it. Hope you are feeling strong and fit, chica! :))
I haven't seen a sports psychologist, but could probably use a whole TEAM for my head issues at times. When a workout goes south, more than anything I try and figure out why, and then give myself a few days to recoup before going hard again..that way I might have more success the second time.
Yes, I am crazy! The only reason why I ran the marathon was because I already had 24 miles on the schedule. Mostly I ran it because I needed to know that I could run it. I felt pretty good about and mostly followed the plan and didn't let my competitive nature take over.
DeleteThere are days when I feel like I need a whole team for my head too. My coach told me that what I was experiencing was out of his realm, but that he would help me find help. That must mean that I am a freaking mess!
I work with a sports psychologist so definitely see the benefits and importance - and the fact they're now on most Olympic teams suggests they're becoming more recognised and seen as the assets to performance they are. I hope you can find someone to talk to directly or indirectly, but otherwise I wonder if there's anything online you can use? I know the Australian Institute of Sport (where Australian Olympic-level athletes train) have a lot of fact sheets on their website and I'm sure the US equivalent does too. Maybe something in there would help you out a bit? '
ReplyDeleteYou're certainly not the only one to suffer from negative thoughts, I think it probably just hits you harder because your training is more intense than average and you are so good at what you do - the rest of us can get away with it a bit easier!
Kari are you psychologist too? I never knew how popular a sports psychologist was until I started doing my own research.
DeleteThanks for the tips about finding things online too. I am sure that there is a lot of info out there if you know what to search for. I might try and do some research this weekend.
I think that my main problem is that I compare myself to other people and set unrealistic goals for myself. I have been giving myself "easy outs" lately, but I think a lot of the reason why I have been doing that is because my training plan seems so much harder than it was last year. I have completed the same exact marathon training workouts for this race that I used last year for Eugene. Every workout this year has been a complete struggle and I don't know why. I get frustrated because of that and then everything goes south.
Sounds like you're getting the training in... now, the head just has to catch up to your legs!
ReplyDeleteI have no non-cliche advice, so I'll just say you ROCK and I believe in you!
LOL, exactly! My head just needs to get in the right spot now. :-)
Deletei've never worked with one (with a "regular therapist, yes)...but i am curious if you are this way in your "real" life too? not just running? you are such an incredible athlete i find it crazy to think you doubt yourself! but, i love your honesty. i think you are fabulous :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth, you are sweet. I have struggled with these issues off an on for a while. Specifically when I was running in college. I didn't run my senior year mostly due to the fact I didn't feel like I was worthy enough to be on the team. The coach was a complete jerk and wouldn't give me the time of day. I actually saw him last year at a football game and after a beer or two was brave enough to approach him and tell him that I was doing better than any of his former college athletes were in the present and that maybe he should have given me the time of day (thank you coors light!). IRL I have been incredibly stressed out so maybe that is adding to the fuel? At least I am willing to work on it and I have been trying to say tons of ++++ things to myself everyday. :-)
DeleteThere is nothing like having a bad workout and then feeling down about it after. What I have learned about myself though is that when I have a bad workout, it's usually because I have something else going on at the time. The personal issues that I have had lately have really affected my workouts, energy levels and confidence. I have never talked to a sports therapist but I wouldn't be opposed to it at all.
ReplyDeleteYou are an awesome runner and person Tasha!
I totally agree with what you said Brandi. The first thing my coach asked me is if I have other stressors in my life besides running. Unfortunately, I feel like outside stressors are a huge issue right now. Hopefully things clear up soon!
DeleteI look at what you're doing and I'm just in awe...so I don't really know what to say. You are a great athlete and are killing it in your training. Maybe you just need a physical or mental break for awhile. Have you done triathlons? Maybe try a sprint one for a new challenge or more of the lifting competitions like you did earlier. Sometimes our mind AND bodies need a break. If I can't do my marathon I'm immediately joining a boot camp group--just need to mix things up and stay motivated. Keep you head up and hope you get to talk to the sport psychologist soon.
ReplyDeleteI really want to do a triathlon this summer, but I don't think I will have time for one. Too many races already planned that coincide on the weekends that had good triathlons. Maybe I can find one that will work with my crazy schedule. :-)
DeleteI definitely think that crossfit has been a good break and mix up for me. I just need to get over my odd mental blocks. I honestly feel a lot of it is related to coming back from my injury, but then I also have work and home stressors right now too. Boo.
Tasha, you are so inspirational! I am always in awe of your accomplishments!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks Karina, you are so sweet! Hugs sweet friend!
DeleteSo curious to hear about your marathon! Yes, a sports psychologist sounds like a great idea. Did you read the recent Runner's World? There was an article about a women learning to replace negative thinking with positive thinking and how it improved her running... very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI hope to most my marathon recap this week. I had intentions last week, but then life got busy. :-)
DeleteI didn't see the recent article in RW and I think I already tossed mine out. I might have to look for it online. It would be a good article for me to read right now.
i have never seen a sports psychologist because, i not hard core enough lol but i think its great for a talented runner like you to be seeing one, i am looking forward to reading about the impact seeing one makes!! good luck lady xo
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeleteI haven't popped by your blog in a white (shame on me) for some reason I wasn't getting your new posts to my email...weird! Anyways I hope you had a great weekend! Cheers, Tara xo
I am SO BAD when a workout doesn't go the way I planned. I think I have a lot more anxiety than is normal and could probably benefit from a sports psychologist!
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled across your blog from Mommy Run Fast...love it!