I am not really running

Derek Simonds · 12-19-2007, 10:52 AM

I came across this link while reading Jason Ferrugia's blog.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/06/he...eU6L1lI5IBemYQ

I have a mantra that I would chant when doing the final part of a triathlon. I would chant over and over "Time and Distance Pass". That is all I would do and next thing you know the finish would be coming up quick.

I wonder how to apply this kind of thinking to O/Lifts. I know that some of the trouble I am having on maximal attempts is mental. Not that my technique couldn't improve.

Joe Hart · 12-19-2007, 11:13 AM

Lift with Kilo plates. I don't think about the weight in pounds(can't do the math fast enough) or in relation to my body weight (Ihave no idea how much I weigh in KG). So it is easier to not think about the weight. My technique does suck. It would be a little expensive to switch to KG plates.

Allen Yeh · 12-19-2007, 11:23 AM

Cool article, I need to apply this to my running (when I do it) "I'm not running, I'm really sipping maitai's on the beach" or something like that.

Patrick Donnelly · 12-19-2007, 03:05 PM

"I'm really not C&J'ing 200 pounds... I'm really not C&J'ing 200 pounds... I'm really not C&J'ing 200 pounds..."

Yeah, you're flinging it up and then dropping it on your self because you aren't paying attention.

Mike ODonnell · 12-19-2007, 04:35 PM

The mind is always the strongest muscle I always say....

Biking uphill while sucking wind I keep telling myself "The mind says quit but the body can handle it"

Also once sang "I'm a little teapot" to get through the boredom of a 45min solo kayak during an adventure race once....

Also notice I play alot better hockey when I don't pay attention to the score and just go out and play....and then watch people's performance go into the crapper once they get behind in the score and their mind takes them out of the game.

As for lifting....I now just look at the bar...close my eyes...imagine throwing it up there like a warmiup weight and then just grab the bar and go....if I am on the ground with the bar on my throat....well then sometimes we don't always get to be the winner.....

-Ross Hunt · 12-19-2007, 08:39 PM

This is the opposite of weightlifting. You can only make a lift if you tell yourself that you know exactly how much it is and you're going to make it. Every time you try to tell yourself, 'I don't care how much it weighs,' you miss. IME, anyway.

That's actually why I quit distance athletics. If the only way you can be good at something is to pretend you're doing something else while you're doing it, why not just do that instead?

John Alston · 12-20-2007, 06:48 AM

I'm more with Ross on this boat....

When I used to run for boxing, I got a tip from a gymmate and former Marine that the key for distance running was to just count a cadence in your head. It worked nicely for running/jogging/boring crap like that.

My mantra for snatches used to be "big shrug, big punch; big shrug, big punch..."
But like Ross, I don't think distraction is the way to go for any activity requiring precision.

You know, it's like guys who hold off during sex by thinking about baseball, or whatever the cliche is... dude, you're having sex! Learn control, and get even more into it...

Ok, that was a tangent.

Yuen Sohn · 12-20-2007, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Ross Hunt

This is the opposite of weightlifting. You can only make a lift if you tell yourself that you know exactly how much it is and you're going to make it. Every time you try to tell yourself, 'I don't care how much it weighs,' you miss. IME, anyway.

Totally agree. For PR attempts, I have to go in knowing that it's a weight that I'm going to have to extend and get under faster than I've ever done before.

I think the key thing, which I'm learning to do little-by-little, is to be able to channel nervous energy and fear into confidence and aggression.

Mike Dykstra · 12-20-2007, 03:54 PM

When I run for distance, play soccer, or do a WOD during the warm up I just concentrate on the fundamentals. From there I just zone out and think about nothing. Next thing I know I am done.

Gant Grimes · 12-31-2007, 06:48 PM

I used to hate distance running for rugby. Then I started running with a ball. I visualized running over all the pansies I passed. Problem solved.