Ever had one of those workouts where you feel like crap at the beginning, but you persevere, and it ends up being a great workout? I had one today on my lunch run. I\u2019m pretty sure much of it is in your head.<\/p>\n
As I hit the trail I was thinking about how I had recently been ripped off with an online purchase (never received the goods), and how I should respond. 10 minutes later I was struggling and found myself walking.<\/p>\n
I recognized what was happening and shifted mental gears. I looked down at my soaking shirt. It was from my first ultra (which was a real struggle!), and reminded myself if I got through that, I sure as hell could get through a few miles at lunch. Besides, I am planning to do another ultra in a couple of months so I\u2019d better start behaving like a freakin runner.<\/p>\n
I focused on form and treading lightly and quickly. I decided to run hard up the (short) hills and recover on the descents, even walk if I had to. I did. No problem, that was the deal. And if it was going to be a struggle, so be it, I wasn\u2019t going to mope about it and shuffle along, I was at least going to put up a damn fight and run with conviction.<\/p>\n
AS I settled in to a steady pace I set the goal of making some plans for Velo Logic and growing the audience. In the last half hour my mind wandered a bit and I formulated an idea for a new product. I got excited.<\/p>\n
Then I realized I was rolling along at a decent pace, and feeling strong. What a turnaround.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s happened to me many times, on and off the bike, often when I start out riding the trainer; and it\u2019s probably happened to you. I\u2019m sure if I had continued to seethe at the thought of getting ripped off, my run would have stayed a painful, run\/walk ordeal, and I would never have developed the idea for some new stuff for Velo Logic.<\/p>\n
The mind is our most powerful tool. We fuel our bodies, often we fail to do the same for our minds.<\/p>\n
My advice\u2026 when you have one of those rides, don\u2019t give in to that first impression. Maybe its legit, often it isn\u2019t. Recognize that the sluggishness could evaporate in 10-20 min, and don\u2019t quit.<\/p>\n
Shift mental gears, think of a time when you had a great ride, and know you will have one again. Think of an upcoming event, perhaps a competitor you\u2019d dearly like to beat, and imagine him on your wheel. He ain\u2019t going home with his tail between his legs, are you?<\/p>\n
And even if it turns out to be a hard, grinding ride, it\u2019s still made you stronger, tougher, especially mentally as you\u2019ve flexed and worked out your mental muscle.<\/p>\n
One thinker said it well, \u201cIdeas move man. Man moves the world.\u201d It\u2019s true, what we think has a huge impact on us, on a ride, in sport in general, in life, and throughout the sweep of history, ideas drive progress\u2026 or undermine and enslave.<\/p>\n
Next time you train, enlist your brain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ever had one of those workouts where you feel like crap at the beginning, but you persevere, and it ends up being a great workout? I had one today on my lunch run. I\u2019m pretty sure much of it is in your head. As I hit the trail I was thinking about how I had … Continue reading Enlist Your Brain When You Train<\/span>