How to increase your mental stamina

T Corolla

I have been traing for a number of months now in the gym and my latest obstacle is to get the last fiftenn minutes on the threadmill. I seem to loose intrest and fins it impossible to finish. My first though on this was lack of energy but I notice lately thats not the issue. I listen to music while running but this is no aid any tips

ocnoc

it comes down to why your in the gym... have you a goal?

If, for instant, your training for a 5k race. Just imagine your rival isn't doing 15mins more - he's doing 20min so he can kick your ass....

Burgman

My question is the same but a different slant: Why are you in the gym? I think it is time you got off the treadmill and out onto the road. Select the distance you want to run and then go on an out-and-back or loop course where you have no option but to keep going until you get home.

village runner

Burgman wrote: »

My question is the same but a different slant: Why are you in the gym? I think it is time you got off the treadmill and out onto the road. Select the distance you want to run and then go on an out-and-back or loop course where you have no option but to keep going until you get home.

Out and back is the way to go............Having said that i have ran 22 miles on a threadmill. Never cover the screen. On the out and back jog out and go harder on the way home. Buy a stopwatch.

MarieC

T Corolla wrote: »

I have been traing for a number of months now in the gym and my latest obstacle is to get the last fiftenn minutes on the threadmill. I seem to loose intrest and fins it impossible to finish. My first though on this was lack of energy but I notice lately thats not the issue. I listen to music while running but this is no aid any tips

I (personally) have found that the treadmill works dandy for short distance, but for anything any way longer, distance or time wise, I find the treadmill headwrecking and Im ready to run through the wall of the gym rather than stay on the thing! May try the road, at least there is variety, distractions when out on the road or even running on grass. I would try alternatives to the treadmill before anything else.

T Corolla

MarieC wrote: »

I (personally) have found that the treadmill works dandy for short distance, but for anything any way longer, distance or time wise, I find the treadmill headwrecking and Im ready to run through the wall of the gym rather than stay on the thing! May try the road, at least there is variety, distractions when out on the road or even running on grass. I would try alternatives to the treadmill before anything else.

I identify with you the threadmill gets boring alright. There is a local rugby pitch that I can use. I will try it tomorrow

shels4ever

T Corolla wrote: »

I have been traing for a number of months now in the gym and my latest obstacle is to get the last fiftenn minutes on the threadmill. I seem to loose intrest and fins it impossible to finish. My first though on this was lack of energy but I notice lately thats not the issue. I listen to music while running but this is no aid any tips

I think the best way to improve the mental side is to race, Getting yourself used to the pain of racing is something that takes sometime but canbe wored on. If its a mental side of training maybe your running too hard to start, I'd usuall try to run slow at the start of training runs and speed up as you go,this way you enjoy the run and when you finish strong its a better feeling

hunnymonster

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

istillgotit

Burgman wrote: »

My question is the same but a different slant: Why are you in the gym? I think it is time you got off the treadmill and out onto the road. Select the distance you want to run and then go on an out-and-back or loop course where you have no option but to keep going until you get home.

That is an excellent tip. It's exactly what I did, and it really got me fit!

Wilbury

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

That's easy hunnymonster.... I just pretend I am YOU!:)

TFBubendorfer

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

I know that if I keep pushing hard, the pain will only last so long.
If I ease up, I know I will hate myself for much longer.

tunney

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

Last proper race I started tested my motivation to the limits in training for it and in racing. I don't think it broke my limits but it sure did push them.

For me an 'A' race is something that consumes everything, you pick a time goal thats a stretch but feasible and do absolutely everything you can considering your circumstances and go for it.

Finishing the targetted event with no regrets is the goal for me.

DustyBin

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

I find that breaking the race up into fractions, percentages, time remaining etc works for me.
I do the calcs in my head and then tell myself 'one fifth of the way there' which sounds banana's if you think that there's still 4/5ths left, but getiing through 1/5th and then 1/4 really seems to work Then turning it around to 1/2 way there, 1/3rd to go etc
When it comes to holding a target pace to the finish I find that calculating how long it's going to take in time units really helps. Like when you've got that burning down your legs from the pace that seems impossible to keep going for a whole lot longer, a short reminder that 'there's only 15 minutes left' works well for me. Somehow 10 mins or 15 mins seems a lot more manageable than the equivalent miles or kilometers.

tisnotover

T Corolla wrote: »

I have been traing for a number of months now in the gym and my latest obstacle is to get the last fiftenn minutes on the threadmill. I seem to loose intrest and fins it impossible to finish. My first though on this was lack of energy but I notice lately thats not the issue. I listen to music while running but this is no aid any tips

I'd struggle to do 15mins on threadmill myself, compared to doing same run outside on grass, find it mind-numbing !

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

If it gets tough, usually try to break last section of race down into intervals, so e.g. only 2 repeats to go! Comes from doing track-work, when I have the same thoughts some-days ! :eek:

aero2k

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

Usually the training is not too bad, and since I run every day but only do 2 hard sessions per week, I can console myself with "it's only 45 mins, 3 easy days before the next one..." etc. I also think of the long term goal, and how much better the performance will be if I put in the effort now. Any time I struggle during a session, but manage to complete it, I store that memory in my head so next time I can remind myself that it will all work out if I keep going.
Most races have some sort of a bad patch, so again when racing I try to remember how I got through it the last time. I try not to think too far ahead, and usually try to imagine myself going faster, rather than tensing everything up in an effort to get more speed. If I've managed to get a good start then I think "come on aero, don't let all the hard work go to waste." If there are runners ahead I focus on the nearest one and try to shorten the gap. If there are others nearby I listen to the breathing and convince myself that they sound worse than me. All simple little things that add up.

tunney wrote: »

Finishing the targetted event with no regrets is the goal for me.

Doesn't work out too often for me, but it sure is great when it does.:)

token56

For me it just comes down to experience and learning from your mistakes. When I was training hard I had a few training runs when I did give up, whether it was it just felt like it got too though or I ran the first part too hard or convincing myself an injury I had was worse than it actually was. But I remember after any training session I didn't finish I was completely disgusted with myself, the next time I felt like giving up on a training session I would just think to myself what it felt the last time I gave up and made sure I finished whatever session I was doing. I've had the same when I gave up during a race, I was pretty young running in a seniors race but I was doubly disgusted with myself compared to if I gave up on a training run, but it's just about learning from your races and making sure whatever made you give up, doesn't happen again, at least for me anyway. It can be though starting out, or when you are jumping up in distances but I think it takes time to increase mental stamina just like it does with your physical stamina.

MarieC

hunnymonster wrote: »

Interesting topic. I'd love to broaden the discussion and hear about how people motivate themselves when things get rough in a race as well as in training.

Two things come to mind on this topic
1 - If you have done the training, you will be all too aware of the peaks and troughs, getting your 2nd wind, 3rd wind, 5th wind. I find this awareness makes it some bit easier.
2 - I think its also about embracing the weak phases in training, knowing that while running and get the heart rate up, you are also pushing your mental fitness, running out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself - that has to be empowering! Then when you and that lull meet again, in a race, you know it, ye have met before and you step up and run through it, crushing it in the process! Stuff of warriors! [may sound exaggerated but thats when really dying!!]:P

Brianderunner

For me i find the best way is just to last it out until the last mile. The last mile is usually one of the easiest for me as i know the finish is near. Up to that point i do what Dusty Bin does, and break it down into manageable sections, i.e. keep it up until that tree up ahead or the next corner and so on. Its very easy to forget that the runners around you are just as tired as you if not more so, you are all in this together. As others have said you will kick yourself afterwards if you ease off at the 2/3 mark then fly the last mile. Better to leave it all on the road and have no niggling regrets afterwards.

hot to trot

Im not as long or experienced as these other guys and gals but for me I had to run loops. It was too easy to shorten the "out" leg, knowing I had to run back as well but on a loop you have to keep going and once you are past the half way it is quicker to come back then go out.
The last mile is always hard for me as I am inclined to give up anything and everything just as I get near to completion , Its rare for anything to get fully done in my life. Running marathons is trying to teach me that I have to learn to go right to the finish.

T Corolla

Well I am impressed with the reaction and advice I'm getting. Just back from the gym and there was a little improvement tonight. I do need to take on board what one thread said and its this its gets boaring running in the one spot for an hour so a change of senery is needed and another thing I picked up was to break it into sections of 20 mins and over time join the links to last the full hour. Thanks again for the help and I will read over some of the other threads for more helpful tips

BeepBeep67

I find both for the treadmill and in races I use familiarity, so I visualize the last 4k, 3k, etc to my house or a favourite run, there's a lap in Shanganagh that's 2.9k and it's a good one mentally to say 1 fast lap left and I can visualize myself getting through the lap.

smunchkins

I do two things
Treadmill: Like Dustybin, I break it up a lot. I start out at my standard pace, then when things get either too boring or tiring, I try and vary the speed.
One of my favirote tricks is to increase it by quite a lot, and then allow it to decrease by .1kmph ever minute (or 5 minutes),that way it feels like I am slowing down and getting more of a "rest", but still eating into my time.

Long distances: Tried this in the gym and it was a disaster. The stupid thing was set to automatically stop after 90 minutes. I never loop, but instead get the dart out to cool places to run back from. My two favorites are Greystones and Malahide. Lovely coastal routes, and I'm straight away heading home.

grrrrrrrrrr

T Corolla wrote: »

I identify with you the threadmill gets boring alright. There is a local rugby pitch that I can use. I will try it tomorrow

Just out of curiosty does anyone know the dimentions of a senior GGA pitch?

RayCun

Yes, google does.



... oh okay, "The pitch, or field of play, should be rectangular, between 130m and 145m in length and 80m and 90m in width."

grrrrrrrrrr

RayCun wrote: »

Yes, google does.



... oh okay, "The pitch, or field of play, should be rectangular, between 130m and 145m in length and 80m and 90m in width."

I'll have to get my trundle wheel out!

El Director

I found that joining a running club really helped me to push myself that bit extra.

When looking for my limiters early this year I found my mental strength wasn't what I thought it was. In tough races like Hell of the West and Beast of the East very negative thoughts dominated my mind. So to try and improve my mental strength I decided to take part in IMRA races (mountain running) and also to train in the mountains when possible. So far I found it has worked but the big tests still lay ahead for me. Good luck Corolla.