A little over 3 months ago I put a call out for runners that might want to join me in some fun. I had decided to get back into doing some coaching just for fun and to see what kind of results I could get out of some people using my "method" of training.
Those that signed on had no clue as to what I would have them do or how hard it may be. Eight runners signed up and paid their fee (12 cans of Red Bull) and started training. We started in the dead of winter and now will finish up as spring is upon us.
Those that stuck with it and did the training like I laid it out saw some great improvements. Times came down and PR's were set. Some PR's were crushed by crazy amounts. Like 6 minutes over 5 miles crazy. Man that was fun to see.
Honestly I knew that they would all end up running faster but I really had hoped they just might learn a few more things along the way. I spent time trying to go over how to race smarter. I wanted them to learn a thing or two about themselves in the process. I think I succeeded on both counts there and that is one reason v1.0 has come to a close.
I was out running yesterday and two of my Rats were with me. One of them had set a 5k pr the day before and she was talking about the race to the other Rat. As I listened I loved that she was discussing the tactics she used to race smart and not just talking about running fast. Lesson learned there.
In regards to them learning about themselves I'll let the words of one of my Rats say it. This is an email he sent me after a great race. His subject was "becoming enlightened"
You know, it's funny when we started this Lab Rat thing.
I knew that I would probably get in way better condition than I was in, and I figured that I'd be logging a lot more miles.
Was hoping to get faster, but wasn't counting on it.
I thought that I would learn some things and consider some things about running that I hadn't previously.
Figured I'd be pushed way beyond my comfort level, which I like.
And all of those things have happened. Man have they.
The part I didn't understand and couldn't figure what would happen was in the mental part of the training.
Didn't know what you meant, or how I could get tougher in the head, partly because I've always considered myself to be extremely mentally tough.
It's sort of what's got me to where I am in business ('cause it sure as hell wasn't talent or good looks!).
But I didn't know what I'd get out of this training.
Sure, I'm running way better, and enjoying the crazy workouts and pushing myself way harder than I ever thought I would.
But I think I'm starting to understanding a big part of the mental game and how it applies to me. Sort of came to me over the weekend while I was running.
Over the past few years I've run in a lot of races. All distances, all times of the day and night, sometimes a few on the same day.
But what I've come to realize is that even though I was in races, very rarely if ever did I truly "race" them. Never really pushed myself.
And now I actually believe that I had a fear of racing.
I was never confident and/or knowledgeable in my ability, my endurance, my speed, or my being able to actually finish a race.
In short, I was afraid to try hard and to push because of the fear of failure.
That's really started to change for me.
Now, I'm really getting to understand myself and what I can do.
I'm beginning to really feel free to test my limits, and am enjoying doing it.
Beginning to understand what I can do and how long I can do it, beginning to have the confidence to push myself like I thought I never could.
I find that I really don't care about failing (or puking, or getting passed by poodles), it's all about knowing myself.
And damn that's really, really cool for an old fart like me who thought everything like this was way in the past.
Sure I've had great improvement in my race times (with a lot more to come) and all of that, but it's the knowing and understanding of myself that has really been enlightening.
And that understanding feels really good, especially after such a hard week like last week, and will hopefully allow me to progress even more.
This has been an awesome winter of training and running that I could have never done on my own.
Man I really appreciate being part of this.
So that concludes the Lab Rat Project v1.0. I hope they all enjoyed it. I know they should be proud of how hard they worked. I hope they all realize that they can accomplish so much more. I've simply taught them a few things that they can now take and apply to their running and their everyday life.
Now to figure out what v1.5 will be and who the next victims are.
