Thursday Focus Part II
What do you think about when you run?
<font size="2"> <div>. . . out on the trail race course, thoughts that carry me to the finish . . .</div> <div>It was hot today for the weekly trail running/walking series. It was actually fortuitous that I was scheduled to work until 5:30 p.m.; it kept me from going out earlier to make my run. Earlier today = hotter temps.</div> <div>Eli sends me on my way. Today my mind was quite quiet. Lots of times when I'm out for a pleasure run my brain constantly chatters. Today it was quiet. I like this state of mind best.</div> <div>Some people "disassociate" when they run, others "associate". I disassociate when I'm not racing - that is, my mind thinks about all sorts of things that have nothing or little to do with what I'm actually doing at the moment. But when I race, I "associate", meaning that I am concentrating on what I'm doing and how I'm feeling.</div> <div>I pay attention to how my breathing is and what my effort feels like.</div> <div>I've been in lots of distance races so I have a good feel for how hard I can push before I've gone over my aerobic threshold, which is at an intensity I can't sustain for any length of time. Not that I don't make this mistake, (going over threshold,) probably at least once a Series, be it skiing, running or biking!</div> <div>I do a little math in my head on course. Eli puts up the mile markers and I like to check my split times to see how I'm pacing. The first split is easy - just check the watch. The second and third miles require some subtraction in my head to figure out those per mile times. Figuring the second mile split seems easy. Maybe by the third mile my brain is missing some oxygen or glucose. Figuring out my third per mile time seems harder and I promptly forget the answer.</div> <div>Not that it really matters; just run that last 6/10ths of a mile to the finish as best you can.</div> <div>I cheer for myself too. Really. I'm trying to keep positive. So when some "I'm tired" or "I'm slowing down" thoughts try to creep into my brain, I override them. "I can do it . . . I'm strong . . . I'm light and quick . . . .". I think it helps. Sometimes I picture myself running like I want to run - fast and strong . . . fleet-footed even!</div> <div>And I look ahead on course. I try to take the shortest legal line possible. The single track sections are particularly fun. I grew up alpine racing so it's like running dryland slalom. Today I broke into a smile on Whiplash. I think that helps me run fast too - smiling. It uses less facial muscles to smile than to grimace. Give it a try!!</div> <div>Good luck with your running/walking!</div> <div>Sue</div> </font>
Comments
Re: Thursday Focus Part II
by Ed's Buddy
on May 31st 2007, 11:18 am
Re: What do you think about when you run? Well Sue, last week I was thinking about a another race I was going run on the weekend. Thinking . . . " humm, Great Glen is so hilly and tough, I should do great on a nice flat course." Well, my deep thought made me miss a turn so I had to turn back and get on track which added a bit of extra distance/time to my run. So from now on I guess I better focus and think about where I'm running and not daydream.
