Sport Today

So if thats your problem... I dont know.. I just say
"accept it" and try to do your best each time.

However, I suspect your problem is different. You say
you do fine in practice, but not so hot in races. That
rings some bells for me...  

First question..
  Are you the type of person who finds it difficult to sprint
at the start of the race?  I've always had this problem..
the beginning sprint would just kill me and I'd want to quit
after about 1 minutes until I settled into my groove. I dont
think there is much that you can reasonably do about this.
At least not immediately..  Some people can do this,
some people cant.. I just say leave it at that, and hang
back in the sprint pack.. You'll conserve your energy and
will be able to keep up a better pace for the entire race.

Second question..
  Are you finding the terrain difficult?  Does your
cross-country course have some decent sized
hills?  That could be your problem. Many coaches
dont often train the team on the same course on which
they race.. The team often trains on the roads or at a local
park by the school which is usually flatter and easier to run
than the cross country courses...  Perhaps you should spend
some time on your own (such as on Saturday or Sunday)
running on your teams cross country course. Spend
another 1 or 2 days during Monday - Friday finding some
hills around your house.. Run up and down the hills
to get used to them.

These are probably the two most common problems,
I cant think of anything else now.. not without more
details..

You should tell us why it is that you think your not doing
as well in the races..  Running with a crowd is hard
for some people.. Some people are just better doing
things their own way..  and when forced to run with other
people, the other people kinda force you to do things which
your not comfortable doing (such as the sprint at the beginning
of a race).

My problem might be that i am running hard every day instead of
hard-easy.Also, the sprint in the start of races really screws my pace up, I
am used to running an even pace during practice.

I remember reading of one club which, once a week, would warm up as usual.
Then do a long run by sprinting first  to get into oxygen debt and then
running as normal for the rest - struggling for breath. This simulates a
race. Allegedly it gave them a big psychologicical edge as they were used to
racing like this.

Hope this helps

Mike Wilcox

cross country races are tough unless you have some confidence