What do Endurance Athletes Teach Us?
Initially COVID-19 felt like running an 800 m sprint but now it feels like a marathon or more likely an ultra-marathon. Unlike endurance athletes, who choose to participate in prolonged and grueling events, we did not sign up for COVID-19. Yet there is so much we can learn from their experience on how to move through extended periods of discomfort.
Patience, Pacing, Process and Purpose are four important aspects guiding successful endurance athletes.
Patience
“If you are kind to yourself, most of the time you’ll get through the dark spot in a better mood and without wasting precious energy ruminating” Rebecca Rusch - seven-time mountain bike world champion
The first rule of an endurance race is to acknowledge that the race will be long and hard. If you envision a race that is over quickly and without pain, you are setting yourself up for unnecessary frustration. If you know something is going to be a prolonged grind and you go into it with that expectation, you’ll feel a lot better. Keep your expectations low.
There will be highs and lows. Do not overreact to either, otherwise you’ll find yourself on an emotional roller coaster, draining you of the energy you so desperately need for running the race itself. It is good to understand the goal down the road but you’ve got to run the mile/km that you’re in.
When the best endurance athletes begin to struggle they take productive actions - eat, drink, adjust their plan as needed and keep going. They replace negative self-talk with kindness. Figure out the productive actions you can take, take them, and be kind to yourselves along the way. It is fine to feel sadness and angst. It’s hard not to right now. The key is trying not to drown in these emotions.
Pacing
“A successful marathon, regardless of what speed you are running at, is the person who slows down the least. You can’t get too confident too early. You don’t want to make big moves until close to the end, when you feel you’ve done everything right.” Mario Fraioli – marathoner, writer, podcast host
A common mistake novice endurance athlete’s make is when they notice they are feeling good early in a race, they start moving faster. They then tire themselves later in the race. Experienced athletes know the importance of showing restraint, even when things are going well. If you overexert yourself at the beginning, you will mostly pay for it later.
Process (Over Outcome)
“Chop Wood, Carry Water” Zen quote
“Karma karo, phal ki chinta mat karo” Bhagwad Gita
Finishing a marathon, an ultramarathon or an Ironman triathlon is exciting and energizing until you realize how hard it is to actually complete one. Focusing too heavily on the end game can demotivate you from the steps you need to take today to accomplish it.
Focusing on the process means breaking a goal down into parts, and then focusing on tackling those parts. It’s a mechanism that keeps you sane even during the pursuit of distant goals. It’s ok to keep the end goal in mind, but you’ve got to run the race mile by mile.
Purpose
Shalane Flanagan after winning the New York City Marathon said she kept thinking about three things in the later miles of the race when she hit a “wall” (hitting a wall is common with all endurance athletes irrespective of the level).
a) her husband, who made sure she could pursue her dreams
b) the women she trains with
c) and the young girls watching on TV
She wanted to win for them.
Meb Keflezighi who won the Boston Marathon in 2014 felt inspired by running for those who had died in the terrorist attack the year before. He even wrote their names on his race bib.
The less we are consumed with ourselves, the more willing we are to do things for others.
Bottom line: Have patience, show restraint, believe in the process and move with a purpose.
Comments
Post a Comment