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Runners World Articles: Archives Mind Games: Negative thoughts dragging down? Zap 'em with these tricks. This is going to hurt . . . Slow down, it'll feel much better . . . I can't do it today . . . Why am I doing this ? . . . It's over; just walk to the finish. Everyone hears these messages from time to time during races and hard runs - even tough-as-nails elite runners. Blame it on that part of your brain whose mission it is to steer you toward pleasure and away from pain. Let's call it the "pity center." But by playing a few tricks on this pity center, you can scramble its negative signals, complete your run, and entertain yourself along the way. The following tricks may sound goofy, but they really work. Next time your willpower is on the ropes, try one of these or make up one of your own. Before you know it, you'll be crossing the finish line. The Giant Rubber Band: When runners pass me in the latter stages of a race, I lasso them with a giant, invisible rubber band. As they pull ahead of me, I visualize the tension building, gradually slowing them down and tugging me along in their wake. If the rubber band snaps (hey, it happens) and I lose my prey, I simply wait for another runner to come along and start over with a fresh rubber band. Of course, it's an absurd idea. But - especially near the end of a hard effort - it takes longer than usual for my brain to recognize this absurdity. By the time it does, I'm half a mile down the road. Anti-Gravity Fluid: Your legs are leaden, and your watch tells the inescapable truth: You're slowing down. Take a short walk break, drink some water, and dab your shoes with the imaginary anti-gravity fluid you've carried on your arms and forehead. The casual observer may think you're wiping sweat on your shoes, but you know the truth. The magic powers in this fluid work quickly, making you feel as light and limber as a ballet dancer. Soon you're practically skimming the ground, touching just long enough to flick off with your toes and propel yourself forward. Magic Footprints: Here's another foot-related trick: Visualize fatigue escaping from your body through the soles of your feet. Imagine leaving footprints that are damp and faintly glowing with the residue of the fatigue that, moments earlier, was slowing you down. With every stride, you're gaining energy. Super Coolant: It's a sweltering day, the finish line seems unreachable, and you're hotter than a polar bear at the equator. No problem. At the next aid station, imagine that the volunteers have slipped a secret ingredient into your water. This substance soaks up heat. Take a short walk break as you grab two cups, drinking as much of one as you need. Feel the water (and its secret ingredient) seeping into your arms and legs, down to your bones, cooling your core body temperature. Then lean forward, pour the other cup over your head, and picture steam escaping. Visualize billions of molecules absorbing body heat and then releasing it into the air. Sidebar: Repeat as Needed Next time your brain bombards you with negative thoughts, fight back with some positive self-talk. Try the phrases below, or invent your own during long runs: Each step is bringing me closer to the finish.
From Runner's World, November 2000, p. 40
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