What Do You Think About During A Race?

[Racing Colorado]

The recent discussion on use of ipods in a race reminded me of a thesis I did years ago on strategic thoughts of endurance athletes. It seems lots of people, especially recreational athletes, tend to not train psychological/mental aspects. How 'bout you? Do you practice race thought, & what do you think about?

[Andrew Chandler]

Oh geez... this is gonna get scary. So I assume I should start this. Actually, what's funny about racing thoughts is that somewhere, around mile 4, the right brain kicks in due to all the endorphines and oxygen. I actually think of some of the more interesting things when I run. Some of them have been pretty good. I learned to write shorthand, and kept a journal by my door for such thoughts (Ala Kathy Switzer).
-I think sometimes of recipies I wanna cook when I get back.
-Sometimes I think of a song I heard on the radio that day and repeat it in my head.
-Since I'm a teacher... I sometimes thing of strategies and lesson plans when I'm running.
-Sometimes I think about some of the failures I've had in life and told myself "you can redeem yourself of those failures if you just put in the extra work."
-sometimes i find myself totally zoned out and mesmorized by the tap tap of my feet.

[Running Lou]

Once I remember arguing with myself that Neville Chamberlain was a better prime minister than Winston Churchill. Alas, I can't remember what the reasons were...

[Kevin S]

Chamberlain better than Churchill? Aside from taking a step back from Ireland (which was a good thing though surprising following the uprisings of 1919 and 1921 but corrective due to the actions of the Black & Tans) Chamberlain gave free run to Germany -- asleep at the wheel when it mattered most!

Clear your thoughts!

[Bernard C.]

I never run with an ipod. I usally play back the days events or what to do with my self for the rest of the day. On tempo days i focus on my breathing and foot fall. During races i stay positive and tell my self when to hold up and when to go hard.

[Tommy Heikkinen]

Sometimes I just put a song on repeat in my head, but that's risky, cause I ended up running a 4 mile tempo to "She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes"...miserable!

What my plans are for running, either short or long term.

Besides that I like to think of scenarios where the drivers who yell "faggot" and "Run Forrest Run!" end up getting arrested or a speeding ticket a mile ahead as I run by and laugh. I wish...

[Racing Colorado]

Ah yes, the musings of a road shoulder runner... On the other hand, have you ever gotten the occasional whistle or "yeow!" from a female driver (or passenger). Makes you check your form!

[Brandon Hough]

LOL about the 'checking your form' everytime I see a camera during a race I have the best form and make it look easy even though it's mile 20.

On the issue of what I think about...

I always 'race races' in my head during practice, during races, I don't have a damn clue what I think about, sometimes I try to recall words in spanish, or dream about snagging off the next person ahead of me in some dramatic finish, I often think about how easy it would be to quit, yet I never do... = [

[Kevin S]

I pray. Works for me. Meditative state. Sound familiar?

[Heather!]

i have two general thought while i'm running.

the first is the thought of running and how great i am - i'll either picture myslef winning a race and i'll be crossing the finish line way the hell ahead of everyone else in all of my sweaty glory, or i'll just be this hugely awesome and locally famous runner and whenever i go to runner's roost and they'll all be like "oh! look! it's heather! she just won the..."

the second thought revolves around me winning the lottery. i pick the car i'll get (i'm torn between the saab 9-3, the audi a-8, the inifinity m35, and the mercedes c240 kompressor... but i'm pretty sold on the saab) and what color it will be and whether or not i'll get an automatic. then i try to decide which house i'll buy. i have one or two in a few different neighborhoods around town that i'm interested in. this goes on and on and on... this is a good one for the longer runs.

[Colin]

I have to say that I think about everything and anything while running, especially long runs. When I do 20 milers I start thinking about food and water cuz I'm so thirsty and hungry, unless I'm hurting then I'm praying to finish without stopping. I try to train the way I race besides wearing an ipod. I think marathons are more mental than alot of people give credit to so I try to get just as mentally prepared.

[Matthew]

This all depends on where I am at the time. If the run is just for fun and not a race or prepping I think about what I am going to do for the week, work, and just life.

If its in training for a race i think about my form, breathing, rythem, relaxing, stride, prior races and how they turned out and how I will run my next race, and just simple silly things here and there if it pops in my head.

For right now I am just running to keep some sort of fittness endurance level in Afghanistan. I think of my next mission and how much it sucked being at high altitude on a mountain side working getting people out and not slowing down till the mission was complete. Then getting back to base and being just flat smoked, and soaked from head to toe in sweat. I also think of getting back home and being able to share running with my wife, getting back in to racing, driving my truck, getting a dog, where I will be in the next 5 yrs, and my family with events and new that is going on back states side.

[Racing Colorado]

Glad you're able to keep up the running there. You have many things to think about on a run that those over here don't even consider, & my guess is you have to wear extra gear as well? I have a sister in Kabul & she say's the routine can be tough. Keep up the good work, & keep up the running!