Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

I had a TERRIBLE race!!!! Yep I know it was hot last night but right now I think

I am hitting a mental block with running. everything is hard for me. Distance/speed etc.

On july 4th I ran a 4 mile race with an 11 minute pace. During last night's run my pace was a 12 minute mile.

This past month I feel like I am regressing. I have worked so hard to get to this point.

I run 4 days a week. Anywhere from 3-5 miles. I do straight runs as well as interval runs.

Any advice or insight is appreciate...

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

It is the heat........its awful to run when its that hot and gross out

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

The heat is absolutely a factor.

I had to dial back/take a break from running for a few months and just went back and am very frustrated that I am so much slower than before, and have been trying this week to focus on improving my time.

But this is a terrible week to do it!!

I did take a break from my normal route and went up to the track one night so I could focus on my pace - set a goal for each lap and run at a nice, even pace - but closer to where I wanted to be. It was so hot and I am still catching up so I only did this for two miles but felt very accomplished when I was done - hit my goal and felt good doing it.

Hopefully it's cooler and less humid next week!

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

You are not regressing. It's the heat. Your heart has to work harder when it's hot and you were smart to slow down.

Do you have a copy of runners world this month? THere is a great article about running in hot weather.

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I will pick up a copy of runners world and read the magazine.

I will keep you all posted whether you want it or not

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

Posted by MrsDrMatt

Thank you all for your advice and encouragement. I will pick up a copy of runners world and read the magazine.

I will keep you all posted whether you want it or not

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

Totally the heat! I am running slower and I don't care. As long as I meet the distance nowadays in this cr@ppy weather, I am happy! Don't be hard on yourself-it is not easy to run in weather like this!

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

It is the heat! My pace per mile is over 30 seconds slower in the heat.

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

this extreme heat can definitely do that! It's a heat wave!


One thing I found to be helpful is to freeze the Gatorade G1 packs and take it before a race or while I'm starting a run on a hot day (It takes me about a mile to finish slowly). There are studies that show ingesting something cold helps in hot weather.

Re: Race Results - Runners Please read. Advice Needed. I beg you!

All that running - your body may just be getting tired combined with the warmer weather will just make you feel more lethargic. It happens. Just keep at it. The results will come soon.