Mental Running?

Question

While I run I don't run nearly as good as I could. During the race I tell myself that I suck and theres along ways to go so I phsyce myself out. What should I do during the race to keep good thoughts? So I can run as well as my body can run.

Answer 1

Running is so mental...basically think "tough" and remember these quotes:

"Whoever said anybody has a right to give up?"
- Marian Wright Edelman

"Never, never, never give up."
- Winston Churchill


"Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure."
- George E. Woodberry

"There's no substitute for guts."
- Paul Bear Bryant

"Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever."
– Lance Armstrong

"A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more."
- Steve Prefontaine

Answer 2

negative thoughts obviously drag you down a ton during the race. you have to imagine yourself doing well in order to do well. you cant think of your race as a 2 mile race, just try thinking of it half a mile at a time. trust me it sounds crazy but it works, b4 u run a race, think "only a half mile, and we'll take from there" at the half mile mark, again think "only a half mile and we'll take it from there" and do that until u actually have a half mile left. then at that last half mile think "if i could do this 3 times b4 i can definitly do it once more" it works! another thing you could try is not thinking about the race, just running. sing a song in ur head, do anything so that u will focus more on that than how fatigued u r. the day leading up to the race imgaine what the race is gonna be like in your head, and the more realistic u make it the better. feel the wind blowing against u, the sudden chill the fall tempature gives u. trust me, it may not sound easy, but u always have more gas iniside the tank. believe in urself, i believe in u!

Answer 3

Visualize the race before you run. Think it through.
Most good athletes picture the competition in their minds before the race or game.

It is proven that mental imagining improves performance.

When you are running look at small pieces of the race.
Run off of the person in front of you and concentrate on catching them, and then the next one.
Run to the next turn or hill top.
It is easier to do a big job if you break it down into smaller jobs.

Relax, breath deeply, don't gasp or pant, don't tighten up your arms and hands.

Run even don't start out too fast or too slow.

Racing is mostly mental, after you have done the physical work the difference between the winners and losers is the mental toughness.

Answer 4

run every race as if its your last one. thats exactly what i did at districts on Friday. It was actually my last race because I'm a senior and all. But don't tell yourself that there's a long way to go. That means your not running hard enough. In a race, focus on the guy in front of you. Your goal during that race is to take him out (figuratively) every time you slow down, think to yourself that he's going to beat you. Push yourself even if it feels like there's nothing left. On Friday I got my PR when I thought it wouldn't be possible, by throwing everything i had left into the last 500m.

Answer 5

Well, the only way to run with good thoughts is to start running with good thoughts in the first place. While you are running tell yourself things like "Don't' slow down you got this", "don't cheat yourself your better that that", and my personal favorite
"You can handle anything that is thrown at you", and then the classic "i can do it." If you start out with good thoughts than you will run and feel a lot better!

Answer 6

I understand what you're going through. What helped me is running with a friend who is about your speed. Don't think about the pain and just try to stay with them. Lance Armstrong said: "Pain is temporary but Quitting is forever." this helped me run even when it hurt.

Also, keep your eyes up! Don’t look at the ground. Keeping your eyes up keeps your mind on the race which has helped me run faster.

Good luck, hope I helped, and keep running! : - )

Answer 7

when those negative thoughts cross your mind push them aways. when that happenes to me i just say to myslef, no no no your good, keep going almost there. and remember your race plan, and stick to it. just think "i think i can" or even better "i know i can". it also helps when i see people i know cheering me on, for some reason i always go faster by them, maybe i want to show off or something but that helps my race cuz i slowly go faster, so just think of how bad you want to do good for yourself your teammates friends and family.

Answer 8

My advice to you would be the same as Danielle, "don't think" but if you do think, which happens when you feel tired or what not, just do this it might seem weird but do it anyways. Instead of slowing down when your tired, try speeding up, weird but it just might work. Best of luck to you Aj

Answer 9

PREPARATION !!!

No matter what endeavor, the prepared do better than those who don't prepare. Get your training in order.

Once you have confidence in your preparation, do the competition in advance in your mind (as Lester suggests), and identify your splits, you'll improve immensely.

Good Luck

Answer 10

you have to live in the moment.
the best advice ive ever gotten was "dont think, just run"
and if you find yourself thinking, go to the matras like "i think i can" or i think about a song that pumps me up.