Stop treating your ‘A-Races’ like ‘C-races’ (and start doing this instead)

October 5, 2021 | By DLake

Audio

Download the Transcript

In this episode my every now and then co-host Phil and I go a bit fringe and niche. We discuss something that I haven’t heard discussed enough —- The C Race!

For a real-world example – Let’s take my half marathon distance virtual DIY race (or whatever you want to call it).

I wanted to test my fitness, get a decent half marathon time under my belt for the year (to keep my annual half marathon streak going), and also gain fitness to run my best in an upcoming 5k time trial for the year. Very ambitious but also very doable.

The half marathon strategy of racing it like a c race was perfect because I wanted to maximise my aerobic gains, not burn myself out (staying aerobic help) and then slide into sub-threshold pacing to help get my lactic acid system ready for the demands of the 5k coming up.

What You’ll Learn

• Phil discusses the article he wrote on this
• how to not treat every race and hard work as a smash war fest
• Phil’s mindset on C races and how it will help you race and live better
• The beauty of thinking like a scientist and embracing failure
• Fixed mindset vs growth mindset
• and more!

Notable Quotables

• “C Races are a cautionary tale to not get swept up in the competition of things. Just chill out and treat the training, testing and fun races as exactly what they should be.”
• “Testing and having permission to fail is important. If you treat failure like a scientist then you want to fail. Failure gives you more data points to prove or disprove your hypothesis”
• “When you don’t treat your c race as a low priority you might end up optimising for the wrong thing”
• “People with a fixed mindset typically don’t enjoy losing. They don’t see failure as feedback.”

2 Lessons Learned

Links

• Phil Cross – C Race –https://philcross.net/coaching/c-races/
• Carol Dweck – Mindset – https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Updated-Carol-Dweck/dp/147213995X/ref=asc_df_147213995X/
• James Clear – How your bleiefs can sabotage your behaviour – https://jamesclear.com/fixed-mindset-vs-growth-mindset
• James Clear – 3 Stages of failure in life – https://jamesclear.com/3-stages-of-failure
• Suggested episode to listen to next: The most powerful way to think for endurance sport gains – https://1betterrun.com/the-most-powerful-way-to-think-for-endurance-sports-gains/
• Podcast Concept, Production and Marketing BY POD PASTE

THREE THING THURSDAY NEWSLETTER – Sponsor

Like what you’re hearing? Want to train and live consistently to do dope shit with your health and fitness? Sign for our newsletter “Three Thing Thursday”. We’ll put three perfectly created and curated things in your inbox. This will be regular motivation ranging from tips, tricks, tools, tactics, and skills. And…. they all revolve around being a better human in endurance sport and wellness.

Sign up now to receive my quick guide on how to get healthy, stay fit and use data to create habits that last a lifetime! Go here to be inspired and motivated on the regular!

DLAKE COACHING – SPONSOR

This episode is brought to you by DLAKE COACHING. If you are struggling to perform better as you get older, hit up our one on one coaching service. Whether you’re 16 or 60, we are all ageing. Setting goals, forming habits, and organising your life isn’t easy. Let us help you because you haven’t reached your peak, yet!