Mental toughness during a race is way over rated!

I disagree. When you're right next to an opponent in the last kilometer of a 5k, it's usually mind over matter at that point (unless you already went extremely fast during the race). Sticking with a faster pack is also mentally tough. It takes physical AND mental training to run fast. The two are very connected.

Sham 69 wrote:

I disagree. When you're right next to an opponent in the last kilometer of a 5k, it's usually mind over matter at that point (unless you already went extremely fast during the race). Sticking with a faster pack is also mentally tough. It takes physical AND mental training to run fast. The two are very connected.

Sure mental and physical training are important factors.

But to use your example of being next to your opponent in the last kilometer of a 5 k, if you lose that race do you think, well my opponent was mentally tougher than me?

Sham 69 wrote:

I disagree. When you're right next to an opponent in the last kilometer of a 5k, it's usually mind over matter at that point (unless you already went extremely fast during the race). Sticking with a faster pack is also mentally tough. It takes physical AND mental training to run fast. The two are very connected.

Sure mental and physical training are important factors.

But to use your example of being next to your opponent in the last kilometer of a 5 k, if you lose that race do you think, well my opponent was mentally tougher than me?

Did you ever think it was both? You are old now, without toughness you would probably getting passed by many more runners. Stay tough, don't get soft on us.

"Train hard, win easy"

Mental toughness doesn't have to just be during the race. I have easily won races by having done the appropriate hard training.

Sham 69 wrote:

I disagree. When you're right next to an opponent in the last kilometer of a 5k, it's usually mind over matter at that point (unless you already went extremely fast during the race). Sticking with a faster pack is also mentally tough. It takes physical AND mental training to run fast. The two are very connected.

Running is very physical. The guy that wins is going to be the one that has the best combination of having something left and top-end speed. There is no mind over matter in distance running. Sticking with a faster pack will always result in an unpleasant, positive split.

runner with experience speaking wrote:

if you lose that race do you think, well my opponent was mentally tougher than me?

Yes.

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Sticking with a faster pack will always result in an unpleasant, positive split.

Positive splitting just means that you're going perform much better when you train your mind to focus harder. Once the focus is there, the speed is sustained.

The ‘guts and glory’ routine doesn’t mean much when you’re 200m behind.

Sham 69 wrote:

SDSU Aztec wrote:

Sticking with a faster pack will always result in an unpleasant, positive split.

Positive splitting just means that you're going perform much better when you train your mind to focus harder. Once the focus is there, the speed is sustained.

Come on. You typing just something doesn't make it true. There's no way to outrun your talent and fitness.

I didn't say it wasn't both, I said its effect is greatly over rated.

Sham 69 wrote:

runner with experience speaking wrote:

if you lose that race do you think, well my opponent was mentally tougher than me?

Yes.

You listen to your parents and coach too much. Most likely the runner that beat you, wasn't mentally tougher, he was just faster.