In “Annapurna” by Maurice Herzog, when Lachenal wanted to turn back...
He thought, “This could be the greatest day of our lives...”
He said, “I’d have to go on...”
In “Annapurna” by Maurice Herzog, when Lachenal wanted to turn back...
He thought, “This could be the greatest day of our lives...”
He said, “I’d have to go on...”
It's gonna hurt that's why your doing it !!
I would repeat over and over, in rhythm with my stride, "Good Job, Good Job, Good Job, Good Job..."
Stupid, but for some reason it worked. Like I was brainwashing myself into thinking positive, even when I was s*cking...
BTW, somewhat related topic...it is odd how things that make no sense or seem dumb before/after a tough long run or marathon make perfect sense when you are in the middle of it. :-)
It’s the adrenaline. Makes every neuron fire at the same time.
A phrase from Greg McMillan: "If it's to be, it's up to me." It's a reminder that if I want to go after a certain goal in a race, whether it's a time or finish place, that phrase brings it home. Nobody else is going to do the work for me. It's my legs and my lungs and my resolve that will get me to push outside my comfort zone and go after it.
My brain kept telling me to stop, and I kept saying "no" out loud to it. It worked!
Mantras work! I use "relax and pick it up" and "fast and strong, strong and fast" and "hold your form" over and over in the gutsy last stages of a race. Sometimes I'll pick up on a jersey in front of me and repeat "reel 'em in" over and over.
HobbyJoggerSpotted wrote:
This topic has "hobbyjogger" written all over it.
I would bet money that most elites have some sort of mantra they repeat in their heads through the tough stretches.
Don't try to be cool (or at least try harder).
I start checking myself out in windows as I'm running by buildings and go straight to Cool Runnings...
"I see pride! I see power! I see a badass runner that don't take no crap off no course!"
vivalarepublica wrote:
I just estimate the minutes until the end of the race rather than think about the distance and tell myselft that I can embrace the pain for that much longer.
A lot of this. For longer races, I'll think about all the workouts I've done and just say "this is like a 20 minute tempo left, I've done so many of these in the past."
During a bad patch of her first 1000-mile WR, I told Sandy Barwick that Siggy Bauer would be buying everyone a round at the local pub in New Zealand, saying “I knew she’d never make it!”
Some things are more painful than failure, like knowing how happy it would make one’s enemies.
I once heard an announcer during a Hicham El Guerrouj race say "nobody beats him inside 800m." I often find myself thinking that to myself sort of as a reminder to stay within striking distance whenever I feel myself getting gapped mid-race.
I also once read an article in Runner's World that told a story of a coach yelling "Who wants it more?!" at his runner. I find myself thinking that if I'm about to be in a sprint finish with somebody.
I won a race in terrible weather once by repeating "everybody is in the same weather... just keep running" every time I thought "what am I doing out here in this crap?" I may or may not have audibly said these things during that race - I was pretty mentally exhausted.
Easy Peasy wrote:
A lot of this. For longer races, I'll think about all the workouts I've done and just say "this is like a 20 minute tempo left, I've done so many of these in the past."
Thanks for reminding me of that one - I do alot of "It's just [insert number] more laps on the track." Usually I reserve that one for training runs, but I've caught myself saying it toward the end of longer races.
'blessed'
"Do it for the finisher's medal!"
I often sing or think of lyrics in my head. One of my favorite to think about:
14-mile trail race, two loops over big hills.
"living a charmed life"
I'd gotten up to 5th place, then tanked on the last big hill. Chanting helped me keep rhythm and kick, held on for 9th place.
Right, weather’s the same for all, misery loves company, X is doing it...
Where x={someone older than anyone you know personally} or {still in grade school} or {nicknamed “PigBoy” like me}, etc.
Recent Tour cyclist said that the saying in Holland is, “Just act normal; that’s crazy enough!”