Men’s Health provides advice on how to run farther in their article, 'Work Out Harder, Faster, and Longer.’
According to Timothy Noakes, M.D., a professor of exercise and sports science at the University of Cape Town, our brains tell us to quit before our bodies actually need to stop running as a safety measure to protect our bodies from injury.
I do experience this in my long or hard runs. My body will be fine but my brain will start thinking – hey, this is too fast or hey, is my hip hurting, will I pull my IT band again? I find that once I start listening to my brain, I stop my workout prematurely.
The article gives runners a tip to get past this roadblock - Jane Hahn, a senior editor at Runner's World magazine, recommends focusing on a runner in front of you and picturing yourself being pulled toward him. I have used this strategy in races to run faster and keep focused on my goal.
I remember my high school cross country coach Mr. Pacheco always used to yell “you are doing fine” to the runners near the end of our races. I repeat his words to myself during long runs. If I don’t feel any actual pain in my body, just exhaustion, I am doing fine and I can complete the run.
What strategies to you use to increase your endurance on long runs?
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Friday, May 15, 2009
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