MIND GAMES
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Recently, I was doing coverage on a local 5K run.
I was interviewing someone who participated in the race. I asked about the new route change this year. As he was explaining the new route, and his experience, he mentioned, that when he reached the last quarter of the course, how it was then, that the 'MIND GAMES ' started.
Now if you are a runner who participates in such a competition, you might understand. I could totally relate to this!! I Liked that expression! I had explained to another person listening to the conversation what this meant and gave an example of my own experiences in these "mind games."
I usually shoot for a certain time to beat, the whole time I am training for a race, but during the race at some point, I don't even care about time and just will be happy to finish. I also laughed when he said, he thought about taking an exit right out of the route and just going home, laff
When you over-exert yourself, and push your body's capability to it's limits, it does very much become a mind struggle, and the 'mind games' seem to start taking over your thoughts.
I run as a part of my weekly work-out and trust me... I don't push myself to 'that point' as I would in training for a race, where the 'mind games' start. I most of the time enjoy it, in the outdoors and the nature of the run and listen to the music on my ipod, but not to say that it isn't still 'tough'. In general, most people during a work-out say, lifting weights, your mind is gonna tell you to quit way before your body reaches its max capability.
I would assume these 'mind games' might be the same for other one-on-one sports, or any other physical demanding sport. A good example might be boxing. Research has shown that boxing is rated as one of the highest degree of difficulty in one-on-one sports, imagine trying to perform when your body is getting beat on.
What about mind games not just in sports related issues, but here's a tough one -- waking up extra early in the morning to get an early morning work-out in. I find it hard enough to wake up to jump in the shower let alone work-out when your body and muscles are not warmed up and not even being awake yourself.
How about the pain tolerance of having a baby, & going through labor. I haven't experienced this myself, but believe me, I alone had the mind games playing in my head, what I thought about my brother in-law (at the time) when my sister was going through labor, LOL. Okay I won't get into that and I probably could go on with other experiences, but I better not. smile ... Got Any?
Did I mention, a women's pain tolerance is 3 times higher then a man's, or something like that.
Okay, I'm going to bed now, because I'm sure tomorrow morning . . . when my alarm goes off . . . it's going to be a struggle, as the 'mind games' make me hit 'snooze' three times.
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brandonbaycity Says:
On August 21, 2009
at 03:03 AM
Julie,
This article is very interesting to me, because at one I time was just a runner. Matter of fact, much of it was sprint running, and moderately fast distance running. However, as part of training, as some who run can relate. The comes a time when you notice a plateau in performance. Consulting with a different trainer was the best medicine, she suggested that adding weight to a workout and find resistance, like run in blue jeans, hiking boots, mix up the routine and then come back to the basics of lightweight clothing, and shoes. It worked, trimmed off 00:10 in the mile run. then another 00:04 a week later. Begin to notice no time trimming. A mix up in the routine and in a week, trimmed off 00:18 from the mile run. I since then have not run as much would like, however, it is never fun trimming off time at all because after the run, the mind games started. Getting better faster, optimizing a 'heal to toe' run that got me the results desired. Even when it looked good on paper, the time was not fast enough for the effort. The mind games took place after the run, because seldom was I ever satisfied with even a successful run. Many times run so hard the whole days eating was expelled in few short minutes. What made the most difference in the whole process of running and running fast; was not the trying to tame the thoughts in the head. It was more of the physical changes and remembering what needed to be done, it took quite the effort. Optimizing 'heal to toe', magnetic bracelets, massages, icy hot patches on my hip-flexers, Acetaminophen for pain, arch supports, 4 square meals, specific arm bands, the list goes on. Many factors can attribute to a run, and a good run. It was very grueling. For what? Trophy? Name in the paper? Guiness Book of World Records? or just to prove you could run from the river front to the local party store faster than anyone else at any given time? Mind Games, they happen after a run. If you are really good, even black cats crossing ahead of you won't matter. Signed Brandon |
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Julie Says:
On August 21, 2009
at 06:34 PM
Brandon.... thanks for commenting...
Although I dont think a black cat would bother me, maybe I'm not that good . . .I remember deciding not to run a certain race, cause I didn't feel like I was at my best time or shape... My Boss, said: "Just run for the fun of it." AHHH NO... I run in a race to compete... not cause its fun.. smile.... I dont understand a trainer telling you to run in jeans. and hiking boots is just asking for trouble, NOT good Support. I found P90X to be very helpful in my training... It's Extreme, and if your looking to SWITCH UP your Routine workout... THIS WILL DO IT>>> check out the link below..... ;) (It also has a nutrition plan) http://www.mybaycity.com/scripts/P3_V2/P3V2-0200.cfm?P3_NewspaperID=0&P3_articleID=2330 |
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Julie McCallum, Senior Staff |
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