So yeah, every time I'm standing at the start line before a race or a workout interval, I get an uncontrollable urge to yawn. Does this happen to anyone else, and if so, anyone know why it is?
So yeah, every time I'm standing at the start line before a race or a workout interval, I get an uncontrollable urge to yawn. Does this happen to anyone else, and if so, anyone know why it is?
Yawning is the best way to fill you lungs with air (I really don't know for sure, but was told that).
Apparently Apollo Ono does this as well before races (http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chicago_sleep_coach/2010/02/apolo.html). Not sure why he does it but at least your in good company.
I used to always yawn before races back when I still ran. Not sure why, but I just would feel compelled to yawn.
Always happened to me regardless of how much sleep I would get throughout the week. My college coach said it was normal. His logic was that your body knew it was going to be worked hard and thrown into oxygen dept so it's trying to suck in all the oxygen it can. I guess in preparation. Not sure if it actually helps anything though.
Stress can make you yawn.
El G did it on the start line in the 2004 Olympics, and I remember the idiotic NBC announcers saying something stupid about maybe he was not taking the race seriously because he was such a great champion.
Sigh.
I always yawned on the start line before races.
I always yawn a lot within 30 minutes of a race
Yawning is a process that releases chemicals that actually wake you up/keep you awake. When you are tired and yawning it is usually because you are trying to stay awake instead of taking a nap/going to sleep.
Is there anyone this doesn't happen to?
I yawn before races because it's just another day at work. I shouldn't have to take it seriously when I'm the best, it's like tying my shoes or something. It's just too easy not to feel a bit bored and let out a yawn.
well, glad to know i at least have company. and yeah it's never because i'm tired or trying to wake myself up, i'm always very "in the moment" so i guess it is just the anticipation of needing oxygen?
gosh, even typing this post is making me yawn a lot!
You do it as a way of trying to convince yourself how relaxed you are, when in fact you are a bundle of nerves.
There are no other reasons behind it, so don't try to analyze it.
My cat has just yawned
He doesn't seem to be worrying himself about it
meter man wrote:
You do it as a way of trying to convince yourself how relaxed you are, when in fact you are a bundle of nerves.
There are no other reasons behind it, so don't try to analyze it.
disagree. i find myself yawning before races as well, and i'm free to admit that i'm quite nervous, and i'm wondering what value there is in one's body trying to convince itself it's not nervous just before something very taxing and important.
I couldn't finish this thread without yawning
What a strange phenomenon
It's to do with nerves and anxiety.
The process of yawning releases carbon dioxide. The body recognizes a pending stressful situation and the need for oxygen. Get rid of the CO2 so you can get more O2. Similar reason why you have to empty your bowels. Fight or flight...get rid of the extra weight.
People are mentioning balancing gases - CO2 and O2 - and releasing surfactant in the lung as the cause for yawns. However, these outcomes can be accomplished by a simple sigh, and represent the reasons we do sigh. Contrary to some posters' certainty, yawning is very poorly understood - both the causes and the potential benefits of yawning. Besides, yawning has been observed in very young fetuses - something like 14 weeks iirc. In utero, a yawn offers no increase in O2 intake for the fetus. We dont even know which parts of the brain initiate the yawn, so we still dont what signals to the brain are causing the response.