negative thoughts whilst running

jammidodgr · #1 27th Apr 08, 01:08 PM

I did my first 9 mile run today and all week ive been looking forward to it. This morning came and i was still up for it. But a mile in I started to doubt myself and by 2 miles in i was practically telling myself i couldn't do it.

My running partner did his best to motivate me but i never fully got rid of those negative thoughts. Does this happen often to people? What do you do to get rid of them?

J

cuprasi · #2 27th Apr 08, 01:28 PM

I recently did my first 9 miler for 7 years and I think everyone has this but maybe not as much if you havent done one before ....

I tend to think things through in my head when I go around ... whats on telly and all sorts and it tends to pass the time a little bit more ...

If you have an ipod then use that as it will give you something else to concentrate on but be wary of you run on the paths next to roads and dont forget to look at you cross roads.

When you get the first one out of the way you should feel better as you can never say you cant do it as you know you can do it so thats a barrier gone ... all you can do is do more of them and you will become more comfortable

Wel done anyway

Revenged · #3 27th Apr 08, 01:54 PM

i wouldn't stress about it... you should be pleased that you finished the 9 miles at all...

i haven't done that badly and the furthest i run is 5.5 miles and even that kills me even now... can't run slowly to be honest... it might be because i run differently to a lot of people... always with a high cadence and i make sure i keep that up... i change my speed by changing stride length... so most of the time i run like a pigeon with lots of short steps very quickly...

not sure the 'it get's easier' is that true... i've found that as i've got better i push myself more so it always seems tough...

cuprasi · #4 27th Apr 08, 03:51 PM

It does get easier as your body adapts although you should then push yourself more

Trinity · #5 27th Apr 08, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammidodgr

I did my first 9 mile run today and all week ive been looking forward to it. This morning came and i was still up for it. But a mile in I started to doubt myself and by 2 miles in i was practically telling myself i couldn't do it.

My running partner did his best to motivate me but i never fully got rid of those negative thoughts. Does this happen often to people? What do you do to get rid of them?

J

It's important that you don't believe the negative messages in your head...don't give them any time at all, just dismiss them and distract your thoughts to something...anything else.

If you give the negative messages air time then they will affect the chemistry in you body and become self fulfilling. Your mind is an incredibly powerful tool that can act against you if you allow it, but also give you amazing success if you think positively

Grant · #6 27th Apr 08, 06:26 PM

I always seem to get negative thoughts at the start of my long run, no matter how up for it I was before I started the run.

I know that it always gets better about 3-4miles in.

I remind myself of this at the start of the run and I always seem to manage to finish the run once I get past this point.

**richardsimkiss** · #7 27th Apr 08, 06:36 PM

I certainly get negative thoughts - usually during races, and I think sadly they can manage to get teh better of me; as Trin quite rightly says, the mind is an incredibly powerful thing!!

jammidodgr · #8 27th Apr 08, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trinity

It's important that you don't believe the negative messages in your head...don't give them any time at all, just dismiss them and distract your thoughts to something...anything else.

If you give the negative messages air time then they will affect the chemistry in you body and become self fulfilling. Your mind is an incredibly powerful tool that can act against you if you allow it, but also give you amazing success if you think positively

Thanks Trin, that makes sense to me. I'm considering music, its just the practicality of carrying it.

If it happens again then i will try my best to think positively. I'm doing my first 10 mile run next sunday, could well be a test of character.

J

Trinity · #9 27th Apr 08, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardsimkiss

I certainly get negative thoughts - usually during races, and I think sadly they can manage to get teh better of me; as Trin quite rightly says, the mind is an incredibly powerful thing!!

you don't have to let them get the better of you

There's a great book called 'Running Within' by Lynch/Scott, which has helped me to get the upper hand over the negative thoughts that try to creep in while running

Trinity · #10 27th Apr 08, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jammidodgr

Thanks Trin, that makes sense to me. I'm considering music, its just the practicality of carrying it.

If it happens again then i will try my best to think positively. I'm doing my first 10 mile run next sunday, could well be a test of character.

J

I use an Ipod, which I put in the pocket of a little running belt so there's nothing to carry. You can also get pockets that you strap to your arm, but I don't find that very comfortable

SpeedyGonzalez · #11 29th Apr 08, 10:55 PM

jammidodgr... i bet you're not the first one to get negative thoughts on a run and definitely won't be the last, so don't beat yourself up about it honey! remember that by running 9 miles you're running a lot further than most people run in a whole year. music can help...make sure they're upbeat tunes though I really wouldn't recommend REM or sometihng like that.

twinkle toes · #12 30th Apr 08, 07:51 AM

I get negative thoughts but I do my absolute best to banish them, as they can literally ruin a run short or long.

Just think when you do your 10 miler next week, you have already run 9 miles so you know it is possible, once you do start doing the distances you do wonder why you are doing them but after awhile they do give you confidence.

Perhaps do a body check when you are feeling negative, ask yourself do your legs feel good, is your breathing good, if all yes then everything is fine, if no then you may need to slow down slightly until you feel comfortable again.

Let us know how you get on

TT

Canwood58 · #13 3rd May 08, 08:12 AM

I'd go with the ipod too -type of songs do make a huge difference though, i notice how some songs sap your energy has taken me a while to get my playlist together -right here right now -fatboy slim is prob my fav. I really cant run without my ipod -i find myself focusing on my breathing which panics me. Turn the ipod up so i cant hear myself breathe and its better -apart from that i just try to 'zone out' put the discomfort out of my mind and try not to think too much -time seems to go quicker then. My Worse thing is checking down on the treadmill display at the distance time moves so slowly if you do that!

jammidodgr · #14 4th May 08, 01:52 PM

Hey, just to let you know TT, i did my ten mile run today, managed to keep those negative thoughts from developing and so i never felt bad the whole way round.

Absolutely shattered at the end though! But thats what i expected. I didn't take any music with me however, i'm gonna wait till ive got a bit more cash.

I had a great sense of achievement afterwards which i will still have all week probably!

Thanks for the support guys, 11miles next week! haha

J

PinkCheeseMuffler · #15 13th May 08, 02:39 PM

Your thoughts are your own choice, but often how you feel physically may dictate that choice! So while many say make your mind lead your body, use positive thoughts to overcome weakness, it also makes sense to let your mind follow your body - get stronger and fitter so that you feel more confident. As a coach I prefer my athletes to feel they are physically well prepared and hence feel confident.
I do think, though, that how you control your thoughts while training and racing is important - have a look here
http://www.runflux.com/blog/2008/04/...-of-the-storm/
for some thoughts on the subject