Phrase that got you through last tough race

Like most people I take a word or phrase and take variations of it and put them in alphabetical order and just repeat backwards and foreword with my running cadence.

Like the word “end”. I’ll repeat:

An, And, En, End/End, En, And, An/...

Or if I were thinking about the book Good to Great. I’ll repeat:

Good to good, Good to Great, Great to Good, Great to Great/Great to Great, Great to Good, Good to Great, Good to Good/...

The better I do it the less likely bad things are to happen.

If you ain't first, you're last

"Relax and run faster"

Gets me through tough workouts and races alike.

This is going on Strava, it better be fast

I usually tell myself repeatedly that I've felt worse than this before and this isn't my worst.

Or, "don't be a puxxy"

For several days before the race I remind myself that it won't be a sunshine filled day at the beach. It is going to HURT! I will struggle with the desire to slow down or quit. But I can push through and achieve my goals and it will be worth it.

During the race I remind myself of the same things as the pain sets in. I set intermediate goals like "push to the next mile marker". I also look at those around me and try to beat them. If no one is close, I focus on running fast and getting as relaxed as possible while also pushing myself to my limits. I constantly ask myself if I can push harder.

My worst races are usually when I have not mentally prepared for the hurt.

A good song sometimes helps me.

Foo Fighters "All my life" is a good energy song when passing people. Done, done, on to the next one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ04WbgI9rg

Or in a more mellow mood, The Beatles - If you want it here is come and get it. But you better hurry 'cause its going fast.

"It might hurt now, but if you don't finish you'll feel embarrassed/disappointed later and that's never worth it, so just suck it up and finish the race."

empowering, I know.

One of my best races back in high school cross-country was when a friend's dad decided to literally sprint around the course and yell "Stay alert!" at me repeatedly. He was a really animated guy and it was a state qualifier, so staying mindful of positioning was important and it wound up being super helpful.

Note: if you don't know an athlete's name, don't just cheer for their team as they run past (ie "Go North!"). Give them a "keep it up" or some other encouragement so you're also supporting them in a more personal manner. Additionally, don't tell people to run faster. Literally no one in a race is just going to forget and need reminding of the fact that they should be pushing themselves.

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!

It's been 35 years, but 'Relax and stride out.' 'You've done the work.'

no wonder you guys can't run fast.

One time I PRd in the half marathon and almost the whole race I had the Pink Floyd song run like hell playing in my head.

RayD wrote:

In the first half of your race, don’t be an idiot - in the second half, don’t be a wimp.

I like it.

Bob Glover: "The first half is for pacing, the second half is for racing."

Cut my race into pieces

This is my last 2k

Suffocation

No breathing

Don't give a f-ck if I cut my leg, bleeding

This is my last 2k

I like the wolf thing. Call on epic energies.

I can remember several races towards the end of a season where I was gunning for a PR. In the final five minutes, I was saying "P-R, P-R, P-R, P-R" in sync with my two-two breathing pattern.

Left right: P. Left right R.

Etc.

The mantra I use is to say over and over

" I love you _____ " and fill in the names of my wife, 3 daughters and dog. It really helps take the mind off the pain. Literally done it hundreds (maybe thousands?) Of times during an ultra and I swear it works.

tfrrsftw wrote:

Note: if you don't know an athlete's name, don't just cheer for their team as they run past (ie "Go North!"). Give them a "keep it up" or some other encouragement so you're also supporting them in a more personal manner. Additionally, don't tell people to run faster. Literally no one in a race is just going to forget and need reminding of the fact that they should be pushing themselves.

Your note sucks.

Someone yelling, "Go, _Club Name_!" is way more of a boost to me than someone yelling "Go!"

And if you don't think falling off in effort happens in the third quarter of a race, you probably haven't raced enough or raced the right distances.

KudzuRunner wrote:

I can remember several races towards the end of a season where I was gunning for a PR. In the final five minutes, I was saying "P-R, P-R, P-R, P-R" in sync with my two-two breathing pattern.

Left right: P. Left right R.

That's pretty cool.

But you breath that slowly in a PR effort? I am 2in/1out at tempo pace and 1in/1out at VO2.

At VO2max I would be like

left P. right R. left P. right R.