After the intensely uncomfortable task of last sunday, I'm still confused as to what the hell I'm supposed to be thinking about during a race. Surely that kenyan fella ...chips-and-curry or whatever his name is, doesn't be thinking of what he had for dinner the night before and whether or not its to blame for the total knackering feeling that's flooding his body. (By the way, I had chicken & bacon (i.e. rashers) in tagliatelle with spinach, mushrooms, pinenuts and a rich tomato sauce. Mmmm!)
Everyone else always looks so comfortable and relaxed with the pace (especially that Kev fella), while I feel like if I have to focus hard on getting my legs to land one in front of the other so that I dont fall over with the momentum. The iPod used to help - I could go to a happy place and pretend I was at a rave or something ...but at my age, who am I kidding.
Anyway, a quick search reveals all kinds of trickery that people play on themselves, reinforcing the point that its less about mental "strength" and more about how gullible your body is and how long you can delay it from the realisation of the madness you're putting it through.
Example:
http://running.about.com/od/mentalaspects/tp/mentalstrategies.htm
"Think of a runner who you really admire and imagine yourself running just like him." - I did. I imagined myself as a hairy ex-swimmer in short-shorts. It worked for a while but then I almost stopped at 30:09 ...long before the finish line
"Play Counting Games... Pick out a specific article of clothing, such as a white hat, to look for during your run. Then count how many others you see wearing it" - its not the f*ing galway races, didnt see any!
"Make Post-Run Plans... I love deciding what I want to do after I finish my run, ... I'll ponder something basic, such as what to make for dinner" - if I had of pondered I'd be eating a skanky qaurter pounder and chips from a fastfood caravan on the side of a road in Donaghmede, I think I'd have vom'd right there and then
Great race. Good day for it. Need to wear something warmer next time
Well done everyone!
Great read!
ReplyDeleteah the mental stuff? Ever since my swimming days... one thought does it for me "Everyone else is more tired than I am" & "There's only one more bend"... yeah, I fall into the gullible body category.