Action Vs. Evaluation

I have been back in Minnesota now for about two weeks. It is good to be back home (especially when the weather is almost 50 degrees and sunny in February!) I ran my first race of the year a day after I returned. I ran a 3K at my Alma Mater, the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse. It was strange lining up with Gophers alongside of me and not wearing an “M” on my chest and having my old coaches Gary Wilson and Sarah Hesser there, but not coaching me. Although it felt odd, it felt great to get back on the track and be surrounded with people that I love. I was reminded of the joy that comes along with racing. I felt overwhelmed with the opportunity to be in an environment where it is encouraged to be intense and to be the best that you can be. Also, it was so wonderful to be surrounded by a number of people that I care about and that continue to encourage me. I certainly get nervous, but I am trying to celebrate the fact that being nervous simply means that I care about something and that I have the unique opportunity to channel my excitement into a performance. I ran with my teammate, Jamie Cheever for much of the race. I ran a 9:29, which is a PR by a few seconds. Although it is only a few seconds, I was encouraged because I did not modify my training for the race, so I entered the race feeling tired and without much speed work! I am looking forward to more races to come.

Next on the docket is US Cross Country Championships in St. Louis this Saturday, February 11^th. It is an 8K Cross Country race. Honestly, I am a little anxious about this distance; collegiate races are 6K for women. While I was at Lifetime Fitness doing pull-ups I had a bit of insight into how I want to approach this race. I was doing 2 sets of pull-ups. In my first set I was focused on how many I was trying to complete and evaluating if I was going to be able to accomplish the reps. On my second set I decided that I was going to focus not on the number of reps I wanted to get done, but on pulling really hard and being powerful. During my second set, I found that my pull-ups were more quality and that I got through them with much more success. I realized that when I focus on the action involved rather than constant evaluation of where I am at and how I am feeling, the process is much more successful and enjoyable! Rather than trying to preserve energy and worry about getting to the destination, I have to believe I will get to the end goal and aggressively focus on doing the action necessary for that moment. This weekend, that is going to be my mentality. I am confident that I can run an 8K well. Now all I have to do is to enter the race with an aggressive attitude and focus on each moment and race. I asked Dennis what a good strategy was for running an 8K, and he just said, “You just have to race.” I had to laugh at this seemingly uninspired advice, but in reality, that is all I have to do: start the race and be an aggressive competitor each stride. My verse for the week is 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self discipline.” I am not called to be timid, and am eager to run for God’s glory with power, love and self discipline as a good soldier would! To God be the Glory!

Here is a link to the US Cross Country webpage.