Running is 60% Mental, 40% Physical
We have reached the end of another year.
Throughout the year I have offered training tips and profiles of athletes from a variety of backgrounds. There are many training programs, but how do you know which one is right for you? To be honest you don’t know. There is no magic program just like there is no magic diet program.
Everything will begin with you and what it is that you want.
How bad do you want to achieve your goal, whatever what it may be? You may not want to lose weight because you’re fine with who you are, and that’s a good thing. Be who you are and not what others think you should be.
Rather than creating a training program and sharing that here, I find it’s better to use inspiration from others: what they do and how they do it. You might find something that creates a spark to jumpstart you. I’ve learned that we all have challenges to overcome and if we’re going to be successful then we must try.
If you can hold the line, then you’re winning.
As the years pass, tacking on additional years to your age, you’ll likely have to put forth more effort to achieve the same results.
Let me share some comments from Lindsay Carrick.
On October 28, 2018 Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Lindsay Carrick, a member of the All-Marine Team, took part in the Challenge Cup, a 41-year-old competition between the Marine Corps and the British Royal Navy/Royal Marines.
Originally from Bucks County in Pennsylvania, Carrick went to Council Rock North High School, where she experienced an underdog win at the 2011 PA State Cross Country Championships to cap off her high school running career.
The Marines Corps Marathon
“The 2018 Marine Corps Marathon race marked my first time truly having a running strategy. I rarely studied courses in the past since I try to not overthink things, but this year was different. It was my third MCM in a row, but I have terrible memory of turns and slopes after a race. So, to counter that, I broke the race into five segments (5K, 10K, Half-marathon, 20-mile mark, Finish) with associated paces (6:45, 6:40, 6:35, 6:35, 6:30, respectively) which were appropriate to the terrain of each segment all while going after 2 hours 52 minutes with a negative split.
The level of competition was a little unknown and I certainly had an eye out for the top two Army female runners. Then upon seeing Jenny Suanca (who, at the time, I didn’t know won in 2015) and Sarah Bishop (2017’s MCM champ) at the starting line, I knew my goal of top three would have its added challenges. The conditions were absolutely perfect and that helped keep my focus.
My placing within race results splits were a little off since I didn’t take the third spot, passing Sarah Bishop, until shortly after Mile 22. I believe the Royal Navy runner (Katie Synge) and myself were 6/7 for the first half, but then we started to slowly push up. After the bridge, my body went for it and my mind kept reminding me how disappointed I would be to finish one spot shy of my goal. My tight hamstrings at mile 23 just had to wait!
My first MCM was in 2016 all thanks to my older brother, Doug. He isn’t a Marine, but signed up with the Travis Manion Foundation to support a cause while crossing off a bucket list item. I found out in late July and, given our competitive but light-hearted sibling rivalry, I came across a bib transfer and finished third female Marine in 3:12:10 while Doug ran a 2:57:57. This provided an introduction to the All-Marine team (Christine Taranto went down that year or else I would have come in 4th) as I didn’t expect to see any podiums on my first marathon.”
The 2018 MCM was my personal best by about 10 minutes. In 2017, the first year with the team, I ran a 2:58:37. I credit the big PR with a training plan that began in April in prep for the half marathon against the Brits in Torbay, England in late June.”
Carrick’s motivation
“My motivation comes from the cathartic yet challenging experience I find in running. I work best under pressure and create a self-inflicted ‘to-do list’ every day so that the time to decompress helps to refocus, stay efficient, and seek self-improvement.
Winning isn’t everything. My close friends and family may say otherwise since I take a different stance for any card game or backyard event. My siblings and I never experienced any pressure from my parents. My mom and dad simply wanted us to have fun. Growing up, I struggled with being a perfectionist (high school and even college all-nighters prove that), but have come to realize that you miss out on meaningful experiences and relationships if your desire is just to win.
Two years ago, I would have said time outweighs effort. Though with understanding that you don’t set a personal record (PR) at every race, performance is determined by how you handle the conditions and environment. I would also say that on any given day when your training time starts to shrink (due to a plethora of reasons, my top one being a platoon commander), I take on a ‘quality vs. quantity’ approach.
Running is the most emotional sport. I’ll never forget passing through the Blue Mile in 2016 with tears streaming down my face seeing such remarkable people of all walks of life holding pictures and carrying flags of their fallen loved ones. In all the lacrosse games I played, nothing could compare to running in step with a wounded warrior or someone pushing a wheelchair. From a day-to-day perspective, your emotions directly influence the outcome of any run or workout and vice versa.”
On military service
“I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the Marine Corps on May 22, 2015 following my four years at the Naval Academy. When visiting colleges as a lacrosse recruit hopeful, nothing could compare to the camaraderie I found in Annapolis during a fall travel club tournament. After a tour and overnight visit, I was sold—this experience would bring greater meaning and challenges than elsewhere in the civilian world. I can call on my Navy Lacrosse teammates, scattered across the world, for absolutely anything and I am forever grateful for them.
I find that such a supportive family has helped me balance life and my military obligation, especially being a ‘homebody.’ I owe so much of the fun and crazy experiences to my husband, Capt. Chance Carrick (Army Artillery Officer now working with the University of Richmond ROTC Program) who I met at the Army-Navy football game in 2012. Our lifestyle has balanced family, friends, and our personal time together with our 24/7 role as military officers. Therefore, we can agree that running (or in his case, golf) cannot be our top priority if we want to stay balanced.
I’m a 0402 Logistics Officer. I saw time as the Maintenance Management and Motor Transport Officer at 2nd Tank Battalion in Camp Lejeune and now serve as the Training Support Platoon Commander at OCS. Fortunately, 0402 was my top choice while at The Basic School since I appreciated the wide spectrum of roles we’re called to fill.”
On competition with the Brits
“I was so fortunate to run stride for stride with Katie (Royal Navy, first ever marathon) until mile 21 that my thoughts were focused on staying strong for her. I know that sounds a bit convoluted, but I never ran with anyone for that distance and certainly never during a race. Making sure she knew the intricacies of the course while helping with fuel and fluids (shout out to my family for having water and electrolytes at the ready throughout the course) in turn truly kept my mind from wandering. Once across the bridge, I pulled away and approached the final six miles as simply two Performance Fitness Tests (our annual 3-mile run test) which we do back-to-back for Candidate training all the time. I was also trying to focus on the power of my quads to ‘override’ the cramping hamstrings in the final 5k.
Being on the All-Marine team has given me the opportunity to share the work/run balance highs and lows with Marines of all ranks. It strengthens your motivation to become less self-centered while providing experiences of a lifetime. I’m honored to be among the men and women both past and present who represent the Marine Corps when we lace up our shoes.”
A memorable victory
“The Torbay Half-Marathon in June of this year will always bring a smile to my face. Placing third female overall in 1:19:57 to help win back the Challenge Cup was a great feeling, but more so due to that performance on an extremely hilly course in unfamiliar territory. It was made all the more memorable since England had a World Cup match following the race and we were able to share that experience with the Brits in Dartmouth, England.”
On handling disappointment
“I had to handle disappointment following the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon in September 2018 since I didn’t feel strong and had to adjust pace by mile 6. I took it as a way to take a deeper look at my training plan and lean on some teammates and my coach for advice regarding timing of long runs and workouts during the week as well as the necessary recovery. For example, I learned that I got more out of an 18-mile run with the last 5k at race pace than I did out of a 23-mile-long run.”
Carrick’s schedule
“Typical Day for me:
• Wakeup 0530 (0430 if running in the morning)
• Work by 0645 (40 min commute)
• Candidate PT 0700-0830 or later where I’m responsible for the training area checkpoints which involve a tactical vehicle ambulance, driver, radioman/assistant driver, and corpsman so I make my rounds to ensure they’re in high spirits
• Meetings involving vehicle readiness/scheduling/safety inspections/personnel concerns we well as communicating with the platoon
• Leave work around 1800
• Run 1845-2000
• Dinner 2015 (my husband is an amazing cook)
• Watch one show/likely football or other sport event
• In bed by 2200. If during the busy summer candidate cycle, I was at work by 0545 every morning and fitting runs in after candidate PT or late at night!”
Running philosophy
“I believe running is 60 percent mental and 40 percent physical. If you don’t condition yourself to push past the ‘white flag’ signals from your legs or cardio level, your self-perceived limits become reality. But by finding comfort in discomfort, which takes significant practice, that is when barriers are broken, and an overwhelming sense of pride follows suit.
Running has been the most tangible aspect of my life to prove that self-perceived limits are just that. The human body and mind are capable of so much more as long as they stay in tune/the latter stays stronger. It’s surreal to have the Olympic trials qualifying time in my vision, understanding that shedding 3:43 off my PR should not be taken lightly.”
