I Believe
"Kenyan runners, he noticed, wakes up every morning with the firm conviction that today, finally, will be his or her day. They run with the leaders because they think they can beat them, and if harsh reality proves they can't, they regroup and try again the next day. And that belief, fostered by longstanding international dominance of generations of Kenyan runners, becomes a self fulfilling prophecy." - Alex Hutchinson
Over the past 8 weeks I have embarked on training to try and break a sub 3 hour marathon. Next Sunday, I will take on Ocean's Run in Westerley, RI and see if I have what it takes.
For this training cycle I put an intense focus on psychological training. Having run races of all distances and paces I was confident in my fitness. I put in multiple training runs in the distance of 20-24 miles with a bunch of miles faster then goal pace; most of them late in the run.
Also over the past couple of months I read Alex Hutchinson's book "Endure" where he looks in depth at how much of racing is psychological vs. physiological. How much does effort matter? Does the winner always really want it more?
The book is full of references to studies by exercise psychologists and physiologists performing studies showing that when a person believes they have been enhanced (via caffeine, sports drinks, etc.) they always do better. Additionally, he dives deeply into Nike's breaking 2 project where Eluid Kipchoge ran 2:00:25. His takeaway with talking with Kipchoge beforehand, "He believes he can run sub 2."
So for the past few weeks I have been practicing positive self talk and convincing myself that I am indeed capable of achieving my goal. Sure enough when I repeat "I Believe" or simply "Go" my focus becomes sharper, my pace feels easier, and I speed up.
Today I ran my last long tempo run before my race: 12 miles with 8 faster than goal pace. I felt strong, I felt ready, I believe.
"... when the moment of truth comes, science has confirmed what athletes have always believed: that there's more in there - if you're willing to believe it."
- Scot
Over the past 8 weeks I have embarked on training to try and break a sub 3 hour marathon. Next Sunday, I will take on Ocean's Run in Westerley, RI and see if I have what it takes.
For this training cycle I put an intense focus on psychological training. Having run races of all distances and paces I was confident in my fitness. I put in multiple training runs in the distance of 20-24 miles with a bunch of miles faster then goal pace; most of them late in the run.
Also over the past couple of months I read Alex Hutchinson's book "Endure" where he looks in depth at how much of racing is psychological vs. physiological. How much does effort matter? Does the winner always really want it more?
The book is full of references to studies by exercise psychologists and physiologists performing studies showing that when a person believes they have been enhanced (via caffeine, sports drinks, etc.) they always do better. Additionally, he dives deeply into Nike's breaking 2 project where Eluid Kipchoge ran 2:00:25. His takeaway with talking with Kipchoge beforehand, "He believes he can run sub 2."
So for the past few weeks I have been practicing positive self talk and convincing myself that I am indeed capable of achieving my goal. Sure enough when I repeat "I Believe" or simply "Go" my focus becomes sharper, my pace feels easier, and I speed up.
Today I ran my last long tempo run before my race: 12 miles with 8 faster than goal pace. I felt strong, I felt ready, I believe.
"... when the moment of truth comes, science has confirmed what athletes have always believed: that there's more in there - if you're willing to believe it."
- Scot
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| Boston Marathon Finish Line, Mile 13 of 24, last 6 sub 6:40 pace |
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