Like most runners, I am currently reading "Born to Run". It took me a while to get into it, and I was about to give up (after 20 pages only) when all of a sudden, around midnight one night, I found myself turning from side to side while reading, trying hard to put off sleeping while completely blocking any thoughts about how irritable and unpleasant I can be when I don't get enough sleep.... Now I am half way done reading the book. I am reading slowly, like eating a large icecream cone, enjoying the flavor and textures, wanting to make it last as long as possible. If you have not read the book, you should. It's a must for every runner. I am not going to spoil it for you, but one of the main messages (for me) was that in order to run well one needs to enjoy it. This is not contradicting the notions of suffering and pain. Rather, they complement them. The idea is to change our perception of what pain, suffering and fatigue are - just sensations - acknowledge them, and learn to welcome and enjoy them. I think that I have always looked at the pain and suffering that come with running as something I have to fight. I know I need to hurt in order to run well. I know that the last 3 miles of a 1/2 and the last 6 of a marathon are going to be painful. I have accepted that, but never really embraced it. In fact, during my tough runs, I have always looked at the watch hoping that it would show I am .1 closer to the finish. Thus, I have never fully embraced and enjoyed these last few miles. I don't think I feared them. I felt prepared to fight through, and I did. However, fighting is not conducive to enjoyment in its pure sense. Sure, fighting through pain and fatigue gives us a sense of power and joy, but it's a false one, I think. What I am going to try to do is fully embrace the pain and suffering, and try to enjoy the moment rather than focus on how much longer I have to run. I am not sure whether it is going to be possible to enjoy the last few miles of a tough race; I think western society is sensitized to interpret pain negatively (like an alarm), and want to escape it, or have some control over it (e.g., always looking at the watch to see how much longer we have to go). If this were a universal brain mechanism, than this principle would be universal, but it is not. Other cultures, including the Tarahumara who are depicted in this book, are running for the joy of it, completely absorbed by the activity with no concern about the pain and fatigue that come their way, with no concern about how much longer they have to run, and how much more pain they will experience. Most of us believe that mental toughness makes a runner a great runner. But, it may be something simpler yet more difficult than that. I'll let you know how it works out for me....
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13 miles today @ 8:12, in 95 degree weather. The post run icebath did not seem cold enough...
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9 comments:
that theory reminds me of a lot of pain management articles I read about childbirth! To not be afraid of the pain, but know that those contractions have a purpose with a positive outcome. I imagine it's the same idea here. I will add this book to my must read list! Awesome pace, especially in that heat!!
I definitely believe that when we are totally absorbed in what we're doing, the pain just dissapates and that's how we are able to more forward, faster. Holding that concentration seems to take a lot of practice though!
Great job running in the hot weather today, you know it's hot when an ice bath isn't cold enough!
meg
I KNOW this, but it's so hard, isn't it? I don't remember the last time I "embraced" the harder parts of a run -- . I have a tough run coming up on Wed. I will think about this during that run.
Always looking for a good one to read, and I have missed this one somehow, so thanks!
Good job in the heat. It's been pretty brutal, especially given that we New Englanders have had such a cool summer for the most part.
Hmm, I've heard a lot of great things about that book. I'll have to check it out.
Soooo true - I think if you don't love running you will never run well. Because why run if you don't love it? Some other sport should be taken up at that point :)
oooh, this is one of the few running books I haven't checked out yet . . . I'll definitely have to get on that! Thanks for the recommendation ;)
I'm not sure it's so much about embracing the discomfort of running, as it is being so caught up in the moment that you just don't notice it. Have you ever run a race where you don't think about the finish? All you can think about is passing the next person and nothing else matters? I think it's like that. When you're really enjoying it, the discomfort is negligible.
I do enjoy a certian amount of pain, however I am like you in the fact that I often find myself hoping the finish line was coming sooner rather than later. I definitly have to talk myself into enduring the pain at times. Regardless, it's an interesting and very relevant topic to think about in terms of our training.
Great job pushing through that run. That had to be painfull:)!
Katie, I have never experienced what you just mentioned. I am hoping for it, one day...Ana-Maria
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