Maintaining a competitive mindset while running long distances is a difficult task to master.
Cross country races are typically on three-to-five mile courses, giving runners more than 15 minutes of thinking time. Some let it get to them more than others.
“Every bad thought that can possibly pass through my mind [does],” said freshman runner Jack Wilkes. “The first mile we went out [at the McNeese Relay], it was sub-4:50, which is 15 seconds faster than I’ve ever taken out in a cross country race. When they called out the splits, I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t panic a little.”
Wilkes said he and fellow freshman DC Lipani should have finished higher than ninth place at the McNeese Cross Country Relay, but he slowed down when he learned how fast he was running.
“It’s about how tough you are mentally and physically to see how much you can hold your pace,” Lipani said.
Cross country coach Khadevis Robinson said the process was easier for him during his running career because his inner competitiveness would take over and push him past the negativity.
The best runners learn channeling their inner competitiveness and desire to win are the best routes to get past the negative thoughts.
“I could have handled that pace, but it psyched me out when I found out I was running that fast,” Wilkes said.
Robinson said he trains his runners to treat every day in practice like it’s a meet, so they’ll be in the habit of keeping a competitive mindset and it will be natural to them on race day.
“Repetition is the mother of all skill,” Robinson said. “If you get used to doing it in practice, then when you get to the meet, it will be automatic.”
Senior runner Andria Aguilar said Robinson told the runners to think about why they run and what they represent while wearing purple and gold.
Wilkes said he has managed to cut down on negative thoughts in the latter part of the season by thinking about the lofty goals he has set for himself instead.
“I want to be the best,” Wilkes said. “I want to continue to get better every day. That is what is so great about having these guys on the team: I love competing with them and hope they do well, but I want to do better. I want to score [at the Southweastern Conference meet] and qualify for nationals. I want our [distance medley relay] team to qualify for nationals. That is really what I think of.”