Ep. 162 - When The Results Don't Match The Work: Believing Through The Slump In My Junior XC Season

The October Rundown.

This week, I did not plan for a guest. I have been wanting to do a genuine solo episode for a while now.

To put it lightly, my junior cross-country season has not gone to plan. Today, I reflect upon my season so far, and the challenges and unexpected turns so far this fall.

Historically in my running career, when I don’t run well, I can usually pinpoint injury or illness as the culprit, causing either a decline in fitness or reduced performance. For the first time in my career, I am not running well, but cannot pinpoint a specific reason. Nothing is making sense right now. Sometimes, this sport doesn’t make sense. Running is hard, but that’s what makes it rewarding. You have to stay self-aware and keep believing and persevering through tough times. Because, ultimately, championship season is what truly matters. The greats in every walk of life face slumps; it’s part of the process. That’s what I have to remind myself during the struggle.

Takeaways:

1. Embrace the journey, even when it doesn't go as planned.
2. Mental focus is key to overcoming physical challenges.
3. Every athlete faces slumps; it's part of the process.
4. Trust in your training and preparation.
5. Learn from past experiences to improve future performances.
6. The importance of self-awareness in sports.
7. Championship season is what truly matters.
8. Keep believing and persevering through tough times.
9. Adjusting race strategies can lead to better outcomes.
10. Running is hard, but that's what makes it rewarding.

I hope you enjoy this episode of The Sunday Shakeout!

Shoutout to the team at the Battle of 509 who told me they are fans of the podcast. Y’all are real ones.

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