Mindful Running

I am doing a workshop in Mindful Thinking and during the course, it dawned on me that the principles can work for running too and I usually end up doing this especially on my long runs (I think I even used them on the Great Barrow Challenge).

I started to do this when I started running without music.

I started to focus on:

My breathe:

• Was it too hard
• Was it forced?
• Do I need to get a rhythm?

My physical wellbeing:

• Is it too hard?
• Is it hard enough?
• Does anything hurt?
• If so, what kind of pain is it?
• Does it hurt because I am running?
• Does it hurt because I am injured?

 My thoughts:

• Am I being positive?
• Am I getting in the way of my performance?
•  Am I paying attention to this run?

My emotions:

• How do I feel about this run?
• Does this mean to me?

I know what you are thinking, a bit deep when its only a run, but I think that it is the only time that I find that I am in the moment and fully concentrating on the task at hand. I hope to use the tools that I learn to apply it to other areas in my life  as we only have one life to live.

Support

I was thinking about this the other day when my husband, Jon, cycled next to me for my last 20 mile run in my training for the upcoming marathon. If you don’t have support, you will not accomplish much, I think it is very much like the attitude that you have. I am very fortunate that I have a husband willing to give up his Saturday morning lie in to cycle all the way up the Guided Busway and back just so I can see if I can really run the distance. He will also stand in the rain waiting for me to finish my half marathon (thanks Rob and Sarah-Jayne for getting him that umbrella, I am sure he will use it!). He will wake me up to eat dinner (that he made) after my marathon walk and do it four times in a row. You see, he would be running with me and all my other crazy challenges if he hadn’t had a horrific work accident which has left him unable to do a lot, but he doesn’t know how much this support means to me. I couldn’t have a better cheerleader in my corner than I have.

Kaitlyn, Me, Jenn and Anna

This weekend it made me realise it is also about the support we give to each other people. I took part in the Perkins Great Eastern Run Half Marathon in Peterborough. A few of my friends (Kaitlyn, Anna and Jenn) were training to do this event but this was a taper week for me because my marathon is next Sunday. I decided that I would run with them instead of seeing how fast I can do it in and hopefully to help them over the finish line in their target time. I decided I would stick with whoever was at the back to keep them company and see if I can provide any tips. It happened to that Jenn was the last person so I talked to her the entire way round, I think people thought I was nuts talking the whole time. I probably sounded like a Sat Nav, I was saying things like her pace was good, keep going, to take advantage of the decline and to focus on someone and catch up to them. When one guy almost started to walk 1.5 miles away from the finish, I cheered him on and he started running again (he gave me a hug at the end and thanked me). This event she has been training for months. On the morning I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up as I have not been as dedicated as Jenn has been to her regime. This race wasn’t my race to run and I felt that I needed to be a friend and stick with her. She didn’t hit her target but she had a personal best at 2:02:21 which is 6 minutes shorter than her last time and something to be very proud of! I was so proud of Jenn because she ran her hardest all the way and did it!

Who supports you or who do you support?

Running Tip #4: Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude

This is very true.  You can really make or break your training or your event. It is very hard to stay positive but if you don’t you can really impact your performance. Recently this made a BIG difference for me for some long distance runs I was doing in preparation for my marathon.

Before my birthday, I went out for a 16 mile run. I was not really in the mood, I had not been training so much because I was working on some other areas for my challenge. I just wasn’t with it. The whole time I was out running, my mindset was negative. I was second guessing if I would be able to get enough time in to train for the marathon and did I have the endurance. Also why had I signed up for a marathon again? The run sucked, I was a half a mile short, issues with my sports bra and everything was wrong.

Last weekend, I went out for an 18 mile run. Although I had some hiccups which delayed my run (leaving my GPS watch at work, killed the car at the end our road trying to go get said watch, cycling 5 miles to get watch and not charging my iPod), I was ready. I had had a good week walking marathons and the runners gave me the motivation to really get into my training for the marathon in four weeks (YIKES!).  It was a nice day, I had on my new shoes, sorted out my refuelling plan and even though I didn’t have any music, I kept up the pace I was aiming for. I had positive conversation with myself. I just told myself, “I could do this”, “I was ready” and “I only had one more long run after this one”. That talk carried me to the 18 miles in 2.5 hours which really pleased me because it meant I was on target for the time I am after.

“Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right”- Henry Ford.

Running Tip #3: Targeting your Time

If you know what time you are aiming for at your event, you might like to print out the Runner's World Pace Band. This is great so when you are out and about, you can make sure that you are on target with the time splits you have. It might be helpful because its easier to pace yourself when you know that you are on track.

Running Tip#2: Music

When I first started getting into running, I had to listen to music. I just needed a beat and I swore that the fast the music was, the faster I ran. Then I found out that I was right.  They say that running music can increase you speed by 15%.

Sometimes it is hard to find the right music for the right pace you are after. Well look no further, Jog.fm is a website that takes into account your pace and suggests music that will get you over the finish line.

Do be careful when running to music. Be aware of your surroundings, watch out for traffic and be mindful of your personal safety. I run with one headphone in my ear when running around the streets of Cambridge but I have found that when I am running with Dusty that I don’t listen to music because I want to be completely aware so we don’t go running in front of a car.

So if you need a motivator, plug yourself in.