175 replies to this topic

[sharon1]

i was just wondering what people here do when the legs are hurting, the breath is ragged, and you just want to collapse... What do you say to yourself? How do you just keep going and not give up?

[courtlylove]

Hi sharon1,

It all depends on where in the run I start to feel this way, and whether it is a training run or a race.

If it happens in the first few minutes in training (don't laugh guys, it's happened a couple of times) I keep an eye on it for a while, and if it does not get better I decide that this is not a good day for it and decide that I'm better off abandoning the idea and going for a work out in the gym instead.

If it happens early in a race (the first 5 km) I recognise it as something that happens to me and I push through it, knowing that I come good at about 6 km and feel better after that. I tell myself that this is normal for me and I'll get over it soon.

When it happens in a training run it depends if there is anyone else around. If there is, I push on anyway not wanting anyone to see me giving up! If there is no-one around I will often give myself a target - just get to the next tree/road/top of the hill/whatever - then see how I feel and usually give myself another target when I reach that one. It helps that I've had five children and can tell myself that the pain will only last as long as a contraction and I've got through all of them ok!!!

If it's a track or trail I am familiar with, I will gauge where I am in relation to previous runs and will try to run a few metres further than last time before stopping, and resume running earlier than I did last time. Eventually the distance between the two disappears and I find I've run the whole way. That's always a good feeling.

Cheers

CL

Edited by courtlylove, 20 March 2008 - 09:03 AM.

[littleblackpug]

sharon1, on Mar 20 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

What do you say to yourself? How do you just keep going and not give up?

Often 500m down the road you'll feel differently, it might take a few minutes but you may get a 2nd wind, or something else might happen to take your mind off it. So I just remind myself of that, that I never know what might be around the corner.

Also a coach once told me that everyone mistakenly thinks that the person who wins/is winning is not hurting as much as they are, but they're hurting more, there just better at dealing with it.

[balfey]

sharon1, on Mar 20 2008, 07:56 AM, said:

i was just wondering what people here do when the legs are hurting, the breath is ragged, and you just want to collapse... What do you say to yourself? How do you just keep going and not give up?

A few things I do...

CL hit it on the head, give yourself a target (that tree up there) and when you get to it, give yourself a new one. repeat until you finish haha!

Remind yourself of a really difficult run you did once, when you thought you couldn't run any further, then went on to do another 2k/5k/10k/whatever

Repeat a mantra. Mine is in my signature: "Pain is weakness leaving my body". Don't just pick one, make it something that means something to you, it'll drive you better.

Also focus on certain things. When it gets tough, I focus on my breathing and my rythm, just keeping a balance. Focusing on small things like this takes your mind off the pain and you just keep rolling.

The final thing i'm going to say is that I'm just too proud to stop. When I know I can run further, I know that I'm only cheating myself if I stop.


I think a lot of people agree that running is just as much about training your mind as training your body, and you'll get it if you work at it.

Good luck! run hard.

[Phoenix]

Great question - I wish someone could make this easier.

I tend to do two things.

1) tell myself that when it hurts most is actually when it's doing the most good (in terms of improving fitness levels, endurance)  etc.

2)In a race situation, I tell myself that I will stop and have a breather when I get to the x point.  Then i just don't stop...but I tell myself i will definitely stop when i et to the x point...then I don't stop, but I tell myself that i will absolutely, definitely stop when i get to the x point... then I don't stop

[Ron1]

.

Edited by littleaussie, 01 August 2008 - 04:41 PM.

[mgi11a]

When it gets really tough I just say the same thing over and over. It is something I got from my father as I watched him go through his life in extreme pain with 1 leg 2 1/2 inches shorter then the other, curtesy of a road accident before I was born.

But it never stopped him running around with me when I was a kid, or hopping around a tennis court unable to run much but diving full stretch at shots he had no right to get back over the net, he just "NEVER GAVE UP". Even to his death bed he just never gave up a fight.

Thats why when it gets a bit tough I think of dad and keep saying,  "NEVER GIVE UP"

mgi11a

[chookrunner]

Gee Ronnie, and after such a sensible post on the "running away from problems" thread too  

This is where a bank of self belief is important. The more you fight through those "wanna quit" moments, the more you have to draw on the next time.
I've been through a few periods where I seemed to give in on training runs and maybe less important races (never do in big races). And it can become a pattern. After a couple of times I usually respond by being disgusted with myself and get it right out of my system for a year.

The more often you get through it though, the more convincing your self talk "I don't quit" becomes.

I'm sure someone will say self talk doesn't mention quitting or other negatives. So "I always finish".

[sunny1]

Usually '1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20'! Pretty boring hu! I have to run until I get to 20, but then I keep running and start counting again. Sometimes I find that I have got to 45 or 53!! Get distracted with other thoughts and find that I am still counting underneath those thoughts!

I used to use landmarks, setting mini goals to run to and then keep running past and find a new goal.

A 'mantra' that I have used that works is an adaption of Dorie's (from 'Finding Nemo') "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep ...". Of course my version is "Just keep running, just keep running, just keep ..." Actually a bit annoying, but does the job!!

Have fun finding your mental cue to get past the 'I just want to stop' moments in your run.  

Chookrunner made an excellent point - everytime you don't give up, you strengthen your ability to keep going in the future.

Edited by sunny1, 20 March 2008 - 10:27 AM.

[Ron1]

[.

Edited by littleaussie, 01 August 2008 - 04:40 PM.

[cakeboy]

Sometimes I say to myself

"relax and cruise" over and over

But when this doesn't work and it really starts to hurt:


"Take the pain, take the pain" aka Tom Berenger in Platoon.

[Brick]

sunny1, on Mar 20 2008, 11:24 AM, said:

I used to use landmarks, setting mini goals to run to and then keep running past and find a new goal.

A 'mantra' that I have used that works is an adaption of Dorie's (from 'Finding Nemo') "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep ...". Of course my version is "Just keep running, just keep running, just keep ..." Actually a bit annoying, but does the job!!

This is my Mantra, it worked really well during C2K "Just keep running, just keep running, just keep ...".
It came from a few friends a couple of weeks before C2K at BBQ aske dthe question what do you think about when running for so far.
I said I have never done it so no idea.
My wife came up with Dorie's mantra and it has stuck in my head since.

It works quite well except it does not keep the speed up so for fast races not sure but Ultra's it is perfect.

Brick

[Brick]

And another thing I do is try to think tall (Hard for a short guy like me).
What it means is do not lean forward you close up your diaphragm and it is harder to breath properly.

Brick

[ican]

Lots of things:

I'm out here doing it NOW.  I might not get the chance for a couple of days...don't waste it.

It's going to feel a bit better soon.

This is the 'hurt' that is making the difference.

ICAN ICAN ICAN

[Ron1]

.

Edited by littleaussie, 01 August 2008 - 04:39 PM.

[luckyguy]

"If one can stick to the training throughout the many long years, then will power is no longer a problem. It's raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply that I just have to."
Emil Zatopek

To embellish this point further, one needs to continually guts out those tough training days and continually put them in the bank, so that over a period of time there is that reserve to fall back on. Particularly on race day. You know you can do it because you have in the past and it doesn't matter what gets thrown up at you, you know you will persevere.

The difficulty, of course, is getting to this place of confidence.  

"In general, any form of exercise, if pursued continuously, will help to train us in perseverance. "
Mao Tse-Tung, essay, 1918

I generally find that on a physically level I can always dig deep. It's the negative head talk that can cause me to falter. All the above advice about this is great - find a mantra ie (channel your energy - focus), draw on the inspiration of loved ones (mgi11a), getting angry, making deals or playing games like singing or counting is all good stuff. Just don't give in - remember 'The Bank of Resilience'.

Cheers LG. And keep on enjoying your running.

[Tom31]

"Tom's going to win, Tom's going to win, who's going to win?, Tom's going to win."  repeat ad nauseam.  Stole it from Bruce Tulloh after reading one of his books as a kid.

[slowmo]

sharon1, on Mar 20 2008, 08:56 AM, said:

i was just wondering what people here do when the legs are hurting, the breath is ragged, and you just want to collapse...

When I feel like that I walk   

I'm looking for challenge, achievement and simple joy in my running but, for me, part of that is staying on the right side of the line between effort and distress.

When things are just getting a bit hard (e.g. any slope > 0) I use Barefoot Ken's mantra - "relax... relax..." and try to let a feeling of ease enter my legs and lungs.  

slowmo

[Ned]

Towards the end of a race I have found "Run hard run fast you'll there" goes on repeat in my head. If I am on hills it changes to "run hard run strong you'll get there". I was out on a hilly trail this morning and was trying to think being light on my feet when my legs started to get that heavy feeling, and of all people Catwoman popped into my head because she is light on her feet!!!

[Ellie80]

I have a few things I like to try. A suggestion from the book 'Running Within' that has worked for me is visualising during the hard times that there is a giant hand pushing me along doing all the work. Alternatively when running up hills that there is a balloon lifting me and doing all the work - I am just moving my legs!!

In races, I have found that it helps me when I remember that yeah - of course it is going to hurt - it is a race! If it didn't hurt I wouldn't really be trying! Once I accept that it hurts it somehow subsides - or maybe I have just slowed down

[Grey beard]

No science to this but I find I have positive days and negative days...

On positive days I'm usually not even thinking about the race or how I'm feeling, I'm just being constantly and pleasantly surprised by how I'm churning out the 4:30 kms (or whatever it happens to be). Feeling good builds on itself and even when I'm hurting I can always pull out something extra when I realise I'm heading for a pb.

On the negative days everything feels heavy no matter what I do, so I usually try to focus externally by spotting the next CR cap ahead and trying to catch up for a chat or something like that. The trouble with self talk is there's a little cynic who sits on my shoulder and says "oh yeah, that's just self talk... look at your watch... you're still slowing down..."

One thing I have noticed is the more I train the fewer negative days I have...

[sharon1]

Some really great ideas!! Hopefully these should all help push me along a little harder... I like the idea of a hand behind me pushing me along, will definitely keep that one in mind! Also there are a lot of quotes here I will try to remember and pull out during the hard times.
I often look at other runners anad wonder what it is they are thinking... especially when they look like they are really focussed and thinking very hard about something!
For me, I am just repeating `c'mon, c'mon'in my head, and am finding that wears very thin! And my inner cynic/weakling can certainly override that with `Good God, what are you DOING, just STOP..'
A guy I met at the gym said that he keeps telling himself that he is pathetic and no-one loves him and somehow that pushes him to go harder... Not too sure about that, I think if I did that I would just turn around, go home and cry while eating a family size block of chocolate...

[chookrunner]

Nah, just having fun, Ronnie.

I really did think your post on the other topic was terrific, and the gabba, gabba stuff was just a contrast. If you look at my posts on this forum, they are 90% nonsense, so no offence.

Back to the topic, there are other things I do like focus on my breathing, breath, 2,3,4 breath, 2,3,4....
or focus on your arm drive and imaging they are doing all the work.

[sunny1]

RonnieRennen, on Mar 20 2008, 11:48 AM, said:

Then there is the time I talked about positive self-talk to family over dinner.  Not long after my mob tricked me into thinking that I was actually talking out loud.  My son asked: "Your lips were moving when I saw you out running down Sutton's this morning."  My wife, in on the scam, asked - when I picked her up from the train in the car: "Who were you talking to when I got off the train."   This kind of thing went on for a while before I cottoned on to their devious scam.  
I do think that once you've internalised that drive - self talk is optional.  Too busy monitoring the body and so on.  You kinda just do it.

Embarassing ... I actually did it once. A walker coming in my direction said "Good morning!" brightly and clearly. My muttered response was "4". Must have thought I was mad.  

[Brick]

sharon1, on Mar 20 2008, 03:56 PM, said:

A guy I met at the gym said that he keeps telling himself that he is pathetic and no-one loves him and somehow that pushes him to go harder... Not too sure about that, I think if I did that I would just turn around, go home and cry while eating a family size block of chocolate...

Not sure self deprecation works that well to build you up or keep you going.
I am with you if I did that I would most likely stop and walk and maybe cry a bit until I managed to get some chocolate or chips or beer then all  would be good.

Brick

[kazz]

Brick, on Mar 20 2008, 12:14 PM, said:

And another thing I do is try to think tall (Hard for a short guy like me).
What it means is do not lean forward you close up your diaphragm and it is harder to breath properly.

Brick

I think tall too sometimes when it starts to get tough. Being a short female, it still works for me!!

I'm also inspired be those people I know who are less fortunate than me. Due to no fault of their own, are unable to run and have no control over what's happening to their body due to unfortunate conditions. I think of how lucky I am and that gives me the extra boost I need to get through sometimes.

kazz.

[RNJ]

I don't run with music but i often have certain songs in my head, Kanye West usually pops up in my head in times of need..  the words...  "now that don't kill me, can only make me stronger, i need u to hurry up now, cos i can't wait much longer.......  harder, better, faster, stronger....." u get the idea.....

[wombatoutofhell]

Last time I had a song pop in my head it was the theme from top gear-gets bloody annoying on a 20km run!
I'm like grey beard-I focus on CR caps and try to catch them.  Grey beards is often the one I'm focused on.  If I find someone to chat with that takes my mind off things a bit and I go a little better.
Recently I've written "HTFU" (harden the f*** up) under the peak of my CR cap so I can read it as I'm running.  Just as a reminder.  As it happens I cant really read it as it's too close to my eyes, but I can see it and thats enough.
Concentrating on breathing and remembering to stand tall have also been useful.  I tend to stoop when I get tired.

[TFive]

Power, glide - relax. That's my mantra  

[walshy2]

i tend to think of people less able than me who wouldnt quit, like wheelchair athletes (most inspirational for me is Louise Sauvage), or other athletes with disabilities. I then realise how lucky I am and that I cant stop or complain or else I am weak.
I also think of how dissapointed I will feel at the end of the race when the pain has gone, if I were to stop or not go to the limit...that keeps my mind focussed too

[Twopennys]

First and foremost I try to stay happy as a conscious decision "it is my mind and only I control it" external things like heat, pain, people passing me, stubbed toes don't matter - I'm not abbrogating the power to control my feelings to anything or any one!

To that end one of my favourites is "the pain is mandatory, the suffering is optional"

Another thing that keeps my spirits up is giving positive reinforcement to others - this seemingly philanthropic act is actually somewhat self gratifying

On trail runs my mantra is invariably "gotta keep track of the track, gotta keep track of the track" in stocatto - helps with nav as well as motivation.

On the road I tend to resort to that old Eagles song "well I'm a runnin down the road tryin to loosen my load got world o troubles on my mind, lookin for a lover who won't blow my cover and she's so hard to find...."

Sometimes I remind myself "that you chose to do this 2P so choose to enjoy it"

On really long or hard runs I tell myself "you'll pass out before you die - so keep on running" - I believe it was Percy Cerutty who first said this but I've never found evidence to confirm it.

When things get really tough as they sometimes will - I go into a bit of a 3rd person rant with a severe "don't you daaare quit 2P"  usually combined with an expletive or two - eg don't you quit 2P you sonofabitch get your effin arse up this hill" - it is about now I realise I've blown all my efforts to remain happy and make a conscious decision to get back to my Happy Place.

My "Happy Place" is a very important concept in my running - that's why I prefer trails - because the view of the bush, the birds chirping, a rain storm, a blue sky, a brush with natural fauna can all put me well and truly into my Happy Place.... Maybe I'm just easily amused?

One thing I've found on long hard runs is I tend to go into a bit of a cacoon where I see my mind and internal organs seperate from the rest of me - they are in a kind of warm, comfy place that is seperate from the pain and I know as long as I keep the food and fluid up I am ok and I feel like I can go on forever...

Hey it works for me

Cheers, 2P

Edited by Twopennys, 21 March 2008 - 10:47 AM.

[sfGnome]

Hmmm.... I've got a couple of different things I do. Number one (normally in a shorter race where it's more muscle and less endurance) is to concentrate on form - is my head up, arms moving well, body not swinging, good heel flick, etc, etc.

The second is something that just started happening (and it sounds all a bit ooggedy-boogedy so I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it) but I seem to run my best, most confident races when in the days leading up to them I'm thinking about how well it's going to go and how good I'll be feeling and so on. It's not really a conscious effort to make myself feel good, it's just that I'm a bit of a day-dreamer with a Walter Mitty complex  

The last thing is that when I get to the point in a long race where things are starting to get really tough, I think "if I give up now, I'm going to have to go through this all again just to get to this point next time, so I might as well finish it this time".

[Ron1]

.

Edited by littleaussie, 01 August 2008 - 04:37 PM.

[kazz]

sfGnome, on Mar 21 2008, 01:42 PM, said:

The last thing is that when I get to the point in a long race where things are starting to get really tough, I think "if I give up now, I'm going to have to go through this all again just to get to this point next time, so I might as well finish it this time".

I should've used this when it got too tough for me at BTBS!!

kazz.

[Fossil]

My main theory is that everyone running around me after half way in a race must be feeling as bad as me, or they would be further ahead - that works for me.

Also "This isn't as bad as training and I've survived this pain many times there".

As far as technique I also tell myself to stand taller, lift my knees faster and swing my arms smoothly - this all mainly as I feel tired.

Edited by Fossil, 21 March 2008 - 03:59 PM.

[Danny]

Suck it up!  You'll pass out before you die!

[SouthAustralian]

I don't find running 'easy'...but I need to run. I am thrilled by the challenge of it all. So for me i often think
'finish what you started, now is the only opportuntiy you'll have to finish this run/race...finish what you've started'.
It gets me through
Frank in SA

[thinkpink]

For years I have walked when tired and puffed entered my mind.
This year my huband has kept on about how much time I loose when racing. I have decided to change my behaviour. I am now even getting upset when on long run I need short walk to down a bit of water.
I think about fixing my posture, keeping to my run or race plan - (as stated by hubbie) or if in out and back race watch for the people I know coming back while I'm still going out.
I am already seeing positive result with close to pb in my first 5k race of the season.

[felisaffie]

I weigh up how bad I feel now against how bad I would feel back home having given up.

As long as I'm out there trying I know there are better feelings at some point along the way or perhaps a better place to stop that would feel more acceptable.

But stopped inside just not trying is usually too bad a thought to stop keeping going for.

Although sometimes If I really am not getting anywhere I do consider I'd have more uplifting feelings trying some other type of exercise like aerobics for some reason sometimes I can't run but I can jump and vice versa.

[Don Juan]

This is a good topic.

In a race I'm usually telling myself 'yes, this pain is real'. I tell myself I can maintain the pace without crashing and burning. So it's mainly positive thoughts, and knowing I've done the training and I'm just executing what I deserve to get.

There is a runners kind of Karma at work here.

When I was young and risk-taking I'd try to psyche out another runner by blasting off at the start. At school I won the 3000m when my main opponent was underdone after a healed broken collarbone, and I tried to exploit his slow start. I told myself I'd look an absolute goose in front of the whole school if I lost.

[climax]

I have found that I just have to think positively and have faith and confidence in myself. If you can get thru a race when you are really struggling, then this does so much for your self-belief when it happens again in another race/run. I experienced some tough moments at a 6hr event last month when most people thought I was gone after 4hrs but my stubborn side got me thru. I suffered massive cramps during 6foot 2 weeks ago, but again I thought positively and made it to the finish line. But my biggest test to date was during my first 100km on Thur night. I was struggling after 25-30km which really concerned me. I kept telling myself to re-assess the situation after each 10 km. At 60km I told myself I was over half way and to push on. At 70km I thought "There is only 20something k's to go - you can do it!" After 80k's, I was delerious, my body ached all over and as I dropped off the pace of my running group (it was a private run to celebrate a 50th and 60th b'day btw), I heard one of the other runners say "If he is no good, put him in the van" (support vehicle). It was a this point I said to myself outloud "C'mon, dont give up, C'MON!" (just like Lleyton Hewit). I thought back to the 6hr and 6foot races and how I got thru them, thought about my family waiting for me at the finish, about the fact that I had come this far - there was no way that I was getting in that bloody van! In fact, I was actually getting angry with myself, with my body for falling apart, and started gee-ing myself up with deep-throated growl-like noises! I thought about running strong again and feeling alive. Then I suddenly was. I caught the group back up, the pain dissapeared, I had energy again. I knew nothing at all was going to stop me now because I was in control of my body, not the other way round. And I completed my first 100km run - and beat the demons again.

Sorry to dribble on, but I felt the best way to offer my advice was to give a brief run-down of my experience. Plus, since this all happened on Good Friday, I am still on a bit of a high! Good luck!

[kazz]

Well done climax!!   Great story!!

kazz.

[twosheds]

When I start to feel bad I try to say  over and over "I actually feel pretty good" or something similar. Eventually you start to believe it. It is all in your head after all.
Two sheds.

[Huff]

I use the ol' football Analagy.  Time on in the third 1/4.  Time to dig deep!

[mja]

sharon1, on Mar 19 2008, 06:56 AM, said:

i was just wondering what people here do when the legs are hurting, the breath is ragged, and you just want to collapse... What do you say to yourself? How do you just keep going and not give up?

relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
come on !!!
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
relax ....  chest up ... breathe deep
come on !!!

[BEFORE40]

Ive discovered a few Mantras that work for me, usually rhythmic and in time to my step...
     "Winners never quit, quitters never win"
      "Run through the bad times to get to the good"
and if its all get too much and Im getting hot and bothered a slow chant of "cool .....deep...... blue..... ocean"

[balfey]

I've got a fantastic piece of self-talk, unfortunately it's only useful when I've taken the wrong keys and nobody else is home. I get back, realise I can't get in the house, and have no choice but to run to a mate's place so he can drive me to my sister/brother/mum/dad and get a spare key...

No matter how far I ran beforehand, I can always do a couple more ks to get there by just repeating "you don't have a choice now, you dumb f..."


...i'm very lucky to have a mate that'll drive me around at such short notice  

[TRAVY]

not so much talk but I imagine catching up to the person in front of me  in my mind, It seems to make a difference what my subconscious is telling me.

[0carla0]

I sing in my head!  

And if I really get into it you can see me smiling, mouthing the words and doing little hand dances while I run, fellow runners must look at me and think I am a little bit crazy!