I woke up this morning thinking, “Ok, I just need to make it through today’s workout and then make it through Thursdays tempo run and then I can face Sundays long run.”
As I was giving myself the mental “you can do this” pep talk I realized something. I had broken one of my own rules. Last month I wrote a post about how losing weight had prepared me for marathon training (here). Basically, when I was trying to lose weight I found the key to my success was taking it one day at a time. Sometimes I had to break it down even further into one healthy choice at a time. I would do the best I could in that moment, and then repeat it as many times as I could. Making and then meeting those tiny goals added up to losing 128 pounds.
Well, when I signed up for this marathon I knew that same concept would help me through this process. So I told myself to just take it one workout at a time, don’t get overwhelmed by the big picture. And yet, here I am only in week 4 and I was already planning to just “phone in” my workout. I wanted to just “make it through”.
So I started over today. I decided it was “Terrific Track Tuesday” and I was going to ROCK my workout.
I sent out a tweet prior to my run. I wasn’t going to just make it through, I wasn’t going to save my legs so that I would survive Thursdays tempo.
I was going to leave it all on the track.
And I did!
15min warm up
12x400m (90s RI)
10min cool down
As I sit here writing, my legs are tired, but I am smiling. On Thursday I will do it all over again. I will put 100% into that workout, there will be no regrets.
So my question for you is: are you survival mode? Or are you giving it all you’ve got? Whether you’re trying to lose weight, train for a marathon or meet any other life goal giving 100% is the only way to garauntee no regrets. Go for it, get out there and reach those goals!
Will you leave it all on the track?
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Love this post!! And I love leaving it all on the track – what a wonderful feeling!
This post is so timely. I just blogged about how I'd love nothing more than to start running, only I'm not sure exactly where/how to start. I have a feeling there's some good stuff on this blog to hep with that!
Great post! I'm in survival mode while visiting family, but making some serious changes to give 100% EVERY DAY upon my return.I'll have to reread this when I return.
Congratulations on leaving it all on the track!I'm going to be honest here and admit that I am pretty much always in survival mode.
I have been out 3 of the last 4 days and am giving it good effort. Tonight a 5k, but it was hard. Yet, I also ended with a smile on my face.Good luck this week.
Tonight, i am happy to say that I pushed myself harder and farther than I thought I could go. I am better about leaving it ALL out there when I am getting closer to a race, but right now I am also having fun just challenging myself each time I go on a long run (he he, only 3 miles for me).Tressa
I'm all into leaving it all on the track! 100% is the only way to go for me.And speaking of 'leaving it all on the track'; after a great work-out I almost literally leave all my worries and stressy things on the track.
wahey for terrific track Tuesday, love it!
Until this summer I could have whole heartedly said I leave it on the track. But with the record breaking temps I'm often on survival mode.
Good for you!
wow u did 12 of them!??? crazy!!! congrats! that is a pretty good track workout!
I definitely put 100% into my workouts. And if I'm tired on Saturday and don't think the long run will be pretty, I might reschedule it to Sunday and take the rest day. At least I know I earned it!
Fingers crossed for some almost fresh legs on Thursday……..
For me it depends on the upcoming schedule, activity and goal. Sometimes, you have to go slower or easier in order to go faster/harder/longer later in the week. I try to go as hard as possible, but leave the tiniest bit left on the table. Take a speed workout for example. If I am beat at the end, but feel like I could do just one more rep, I have succeeded. If I feel like I could continue to do multiple reps, I didn't work hard enough.
I love leaving all my stress/anger on the track. Those are some of the best workouts!
i try to leave it all on the track. i am much better at pushing myself in a group or with a trainer. i seem to hold back in races and i am working on that. mental toughness.
Wow! This is so relevant to me. Thank you for such a great post!I have to admit I am often in survival mode. Saving my legs, my strength and energy for the next thing and just checking the box.I need to leave it all on the track each workout.
I am in survival mode as I try to figure out what is wrong with my heel. I like your concept though
Today was my last run of a 12 week training program for the race I'm running Saturday. I have to admit, I've been in survival mode this week. Just tired from all the hard training. I'm glad for my two days of rest.But, throughout the process, I did work at just dealing with that day's scheduled run. If I think too hard about speedwork, I never want to do it. But when I'm hot and sweaty and finished? I feel like a champion!Because it has been such a long journey for me, I think my weight loss journey has been the same. There are times when I go at it full throttle and times when I go into survival mode. I'm OK with that.
Oh, I fall into the survival mode trap a lot. I think in order to do more I really have to tell myself, this time, you're giving it your all–not just getting by.
it's a brilliant skill– being able to stop, recognize and alter your thought process.glad it paid off
This is such a good way to look at marathon training. I have definitely learned that I have to take it a workout (or sometimes a mile!) at a time. Awesome job!
I gave you an award…check it out. http://theskinnyoncarbs.blogspot.com/2010/08/weigh-in-and-award.html
This is a great post! Puts things in perspective for me.. I am guilty of not always giving 100% but will definitely remember this post and push towards my goal… 100%!
I love putting 110% into my workouts. I feel better about myself and it makes it a challenge! I love how you completely changed your attitude — I need to remember that!
Nice!! I love when you dread a workout and it ends up being a great one.
This post is so true! Thanks for the motivation to keep working hard… I have a tendency to slack off every so often!
Awesome, that's a great job!! We do Track workouts on Tuesdays too, I love it: Terrific Track Tuesdays!! Keep up the great work!
Great job on your track workout.
Great post! I sometimes get overwhelmed and discouraged when I look at the big picture. Thanks for the reminder to take it one day at a time and to give it my all each and every day!
I'm a brand new runner and this morning, I woke up and thought, "OMG! I have to run for 9 minutes in a row tonight at running club!" Not the best way to start your day. So I chucked some chocolate chips into my oatmeal for good measure and I'm trying not to think about it. Will run when I get there!
Great Job!!Keep it up!
12 x quarter miles builds courage! Good job. The only workout that matters is now.Give it everything that is called for – nothing more / nothing less.
great job! I like your attitude change so early in the am
I am trying to mentally get to where I can "leave it all on the track". I feel like I'm always trying to save it for something that's around the corner. Great post!
I love your attitude! Great post!
No day like today, right? I needed that. I am so worried about scheduling and making it through a week lately, that I have been telling myself similar things prior to my workouts. Thanks for the encouragement.
Great post! awesome job on the run and giving it all you've got. I could definitely work on giving it all I've got!
uh I needed to read this today. I'm already dreading my run today but Know I need to do it or i'll get behind (it's been a week.. if I miss one more day I feel like i'm back to square one!).
You are a rockstar. I love your motivation and dedication to your running. Leaving it all on the track is going to be my inspiration this week – going to give it all I have and be thankful that I have the ability to do so. Keep it up!!!
Awesome job!
I´m following the same program as you are, but for the 10K run instead. Even though it´s easier for my to run the intervals at the right tempo than it is to run the tempo or long run at the right pace, I still find the Tuesdays the hardest. I think it´s the simlpe fact that it´s a Tuesday. It´s my least favorite day of the week, and I´m usually in a really bad mood…
Last week, I sucked it through and ran anyway, and felt better afterwards. This week, I decided (largely because of a bad headache) to do the run today instead.I like the renaming! 
Here´s for terrific track tuesdays! 
TWELVE 400's?!?!?! That's awesome! Great job!
Does 90s RI mean a 90 second rest interval? I'm surprisingly out of touch with the lingo.I totally understand what you mean with taking one day at a time. I'm like that to a point, but I am very much a planner – so I always have to have the overall goal in the back of my head. In fact, it has started to bother me that I don't have any races on the schedule for 2011 yet! (Nevermind that I'll have a little infant keeping me up at night by then….)BTW – way to rock out your track work. Isn't it fun to see those fast times in your log!?!?
Holy cow! This post totally opened up my eyes!! I didn't even realize it, but I've been kind of stressing about a big race I have in September. If I miss one run, I'm stressing over it instead of just focusing on the next one at hand. Wow – I feel like suddenly this whole weight has been lifted. Perhaps if I just look at it as one run at a time this big race won't seem as scary and intimidating. THANK YOU!!!
I pretty much have to take it one day at a time. I definitely have my ups and downs with motivation so I have to look at each day as a "new day" so that I don't get down if I slacked the day before…Good job on the track workout
Hah! I just got done writing a post about how I am basically in survival mode. Good for you! I'm glad that your training is going so well; you are going to have a first marathon!
I remember that post. Every month I set myself a mileage goal. A few times I've found myself "phoning it in". Just slogging through the miles, basically so I could say I did it. But I wasn't improving in any area of my running … just increasing mileage. Now I'm following a fairly high mileage training plan, so still meeting my mileage goals I had set. But insted of just step after step, I'm actually working. Hard .. but very rewarding.
I love track workouts. I always feel like I have to leave it on the track. I never think ah I'd love to do a ton more of that! Ha by the end I'm thinking oh thank God!
I can't believe you did that many 400 repeats. You are going to ROCK in your marathon.I always look ahead to the long runs. It's hard not to do so. But you give some great advice in taking everything in life one step at a time.
I love this. I try to take everything one day at a time and it really does help.
I prefer running bridges over track work. Mondays!!
Isn't it funny how hard it is to get ourselves to work out, but how awesome we always feel afterward? My trick is to always remind myself of that feeling and promise myself "You might not love it now, but you'll love how you feel after".
Raexo
Nice work on the track Lady! Keep up the awesome work!
I needed to read this post today as I've been yo-yo'ing for several months after losing 35 lbs. By the way, your blog has really inspired me so I nominated you for an award on my blog:http://soskinnyontheinside.blogspot.com/2010/08/sweet-award.htmlLook forward to reading more from you!~Tara
世間事沒有一樣沒有困難，只要有信心去做，至少可以做出一些成績。..................................................
sometimes the runs that are the hardest to start mentally are the best ones physically, great work Tricia!
Great post! Sometimes it can be tough to only take it one day at a time and be in the moment. Congrats on leaving it all on the track
When I get to the point of my run where my feet and legs hurt and my breathing is harder I look behind me and remind myself how far I've gone. I also ask myself if I can do it for another five minutes. Then I keep going for five more minutes. I do this again and again until I know I can't go on anymore. I've only had to stop and take a quick rest about 3 times since I started running in February.
I love this mindset! Sometimes it is very crucial to just focus on one baby step at a time. I had a quote on my blog – "success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." (Robert collier)
Very inspiring to read, since mentally I have not been connected with my running side.
Awesome post-so true~
Some days it's survival, baby! I love the thought and feeling of leaving stress behind, on the track, and moving on. I can totally relate, thanks for this post!
Good for you – that's an awesome attitude adjustment and you'll reap the rewards.I'm doing a bit of both in all areas of my life. Somedays I can really focus and do my best and other days I just want to phone it all in. It's a tough balancing act for sure.
Way to go!!! I am lately leaving it all on the track…trying to lose weight…win a contest for weightloss…trying to run a half in under 2 hours
That is the AWESOME part about the 3 sessions per week thing – you can leave it all on the track because you always have a day to rest. And the workouts, if you follow them, make SURE you do that. Good job leaving it on the track!
When ever I want to stop at 1.5mi of a 3mi run. I always tell myself if I'm not going to give my best to running then waste my time. Usually, that works for me.
Great post! You are so right.