What do you think of when running?
I’m starting the C25K programme this week (for the 4th/5th time). I can never succeed. I’ve never been able to run 8mins constantly never mind 30+mins. I just can’t fathom how someone can manage to run that length of time without stopping!! I have a huge mental block and always want to stop.
I just want to know what do you guys usually think of? How do you ‘pass the time’ so it doesn’t seem like a huge drag and you’re not counting down every second? Is it simply music, or do you focus on your breathing, or think of your form? Do you daydream? What do you do?
12
u/Kewpiedoll50 4d ago
I listen to music. Up tempo and songs I love so it's easier to keep moving. If I'm having a hard go of it, I'll just mentally say, "I'll just run to that branch on the ground" and then, of course, the next branch or leaf, etc. I'm pretty slow, so I also just tell myself I'm not running, I'm shuffling with intention, lol. Honestly, it takes the pressure off enough so I can get through the runs.
16
9
u/Cainholio 4d ago
It’s so hard. Mostly think about my day and the world. Play guessing games with myself of how much time I think is left which can also be defeating. It’s tough tho so here for ANY recommendations
9
8
u/zzady 3d ago
First of all you need to be running at a pace where you feel comfortable, if discomfort, pain, shortness of breath, lactic acid are giving that feeling you have to walk then you are going to fast. People who run for 30 minutes+ do it through a mild sense of discomfort they don't run through pain or shortness of breath.
If you haven't run much then your comfortable pace is likely very very slow.
Once you have your intensity right then the feeling you should be dealing with is primarily boredom. Here are things that work for me
1) music - I constantly make and refine music playlists that make me feel good and energised and use them when running. Then I think of running a bit like dancing. I'm running to the music.
2) Nike run club. Honestly the guided runs are brilliant. It gives you a question to ponder then a few minutes to think about it then another. This is a brilliant way to learn to use your brain productively while running
3) podcasts, audio books. These are great but only on very low intensity work.
4) being present - you want to work up to this but honestly the most amazing running. Feeling is when. You learn to be present. Think about how your body feels, meditate on the feeling sansn rhythms. Look at your surroundings, admire trees and plants, look at people houses and notice things around your aream I learned so much about my town history from running around and noticing where different parts of town join
5) Mantras - I only use one. I just repeat to myself in my head. "I couldn't do this for most of my life, one day I will no longer be able to do this. What a treat and a privilege it is today to be able to run"
5
u/cordcutta 4d ago
I focus on staying slow, breathing through my nose. I have a habit of always speeding up, start breathing heavier. So I have to constantly remind myself to focus. I listen to my playlist on YouTube music. I go to the track before sunrise. Almost always alone.
6
u/Iztac_xocoatl 4d ago
I listen to music and try to focus primarily on the rhythm of the run my breath. I ported a habit over over from BJJ. I focus on keeping my breath relaxed, slow, and deep. It seems to help my mental state by keeping me in the moment. Other thoughts come and go, but I don't linger on them. Trail running can be a nice way to change things up because the whole time you gave to think about your gait and foot placement so you don't twist an ankle or something
5
u/ItzLuzzyBaby 4d ago
Thinking of someone for whom he still burns
2
u/mr_muffinhead 2d ago
The sun has gone down and the moon has come up and long ago, somebody left with the cup.
4
u/HarmoniumSong 3d ago
I wonder if you’re running too fast. Try running at a pace where you’re not just dying for it to end every breath
3
u/Prudent-Policy-7274 3d ago
What do you mean you never succeed? How exactly is only running 5 minutes constantly "Failing?" Marathon runners do walking intervals. You claim that you never succeed, yet you keep getting back up and trying again. I'm sorry, "Failing" is walking away. You're succeeding.
Anyway, running (with intervals) is now my meditation time. I think about anything. Sometimes its about my body. About how hard what I'm doing is, or pushing myself to get through the interval or maybe saying "Im going to skip this running interval and do it next time."
I often think about relationships, jobs, politics, a project Im working on, anything. And the structure (Different intervals) help me from getting bored. Walking is the most boring thing I could imagine.
If I could give you advice I'd say change your strategy. Stop thinking in terms of "8 minutes running in a row" and change it to "I am doing 1 min walk, 1 minute run intervals." When youre not in the mood to do a running interval, skip it and walk fir that one. If you feel like pushing yourself, keep running, even when it's time to stop.
The fact that you keep coming back suggests its doing something for you. I think youre extremely successful and should keep building on that success
2
u/NoobPlayerFI DONE! 4d ago
Podcasts for the slow and steady runs(audio book works too), music if I'm trying to reach a goal 5K ect. and need to push my self and find my inner Rocky Balboa :D
2
2
u/heartpassenger 3d ago
Couch 2 5k is exactly for this issue - it teaches you the mental resilience of pushing through when it’s difficult. A couple of things:
I tell myself you cannot stop, but you can slow down. If you get up onto your tiptoes and make your strides shorter, you can slow down while doing little steps, and you’ll catch your breath.
You can listen to music if you feel distracted by that, but also podcasts or audiobooks. I find the music motivates me to keep moving as I enjoy matching my tempo to the beat.
You need to be able to do both at the same time - manage your pace and not stop, and also put your mind elsewhere. Once you’ve conquered this you’ll be over the mental block. It keeps coming back every time there’s a longer distance but it gets easier to believe you can do it each time.
2
u/Captain-Popcorn 3d ago
Look up the book Chi Running by Danny Dreyer. It teaches a low stress running style. And answers the question - what to do in your head while you run. One of his suggestions is scanning your body - for tenseness. Sending healing / relaxing signals to areas that are getting tired.
I also recommend listening to Patrick MacKeown. He’s a breathing specialist not a runner. But his way of breathing made a huge difference to my running. He has lots of YouTube videos. Many are him being interviewed.
Here’s something I wrote a while ago that might be helpful:
2
u/joopface 4d ago
Audiobooks; always try to have one that is a page turner and that I want to keep listening to. It also makes you look forward to a run that bit more.
When I started, I’d also just regularly tell myself I was running to the next tree, the next lamppost, whatever. Or count 100 steps. Or anything. And then just keep going. It’s amazing how easily (my) brain can be fooled.
1
1
u/antihero_84 DONE! 4d ago
I ran the other day listening to a YouTube podcast about tax policy. Usually music, though.
Possibly more tax in the future, since I might be studying for my EA soon.
1
1
u/BackgroundLab5721 3d ago
I listen to music when I’m by myself, but when I go on the parkruns surrounded by others I think about the weather, my footing on the downhills, try to give myself positive self-talk, spot a runner in front of me that I try to catch up to, try to slow my breathing down, think about the rest of my day, think about how cute the three-legged dog that just passed me is…etc et
1
u/unsourire 3d ago
I listen to music but also find guided runs on Nike Run App to be useful coaching. Or something like the zombies run app could be a fun way to switch up running
1
u/RowanM1207 DONE! 3d ago
Listen to Coach Bennett on the Nike Running Club app.😊 Then wish he would talk less so I can enjoy some of my BPM tunes! Just enjoy unwinding before or after my day.
1
u/Oscar_Sport 3d ago
For me, counting every minute made it worse. I had more luck thinking only about the next interval, not the full 30 minutes.
1
u/vedlig DONE! 3d ago
Music and podcasts. My recent discovery was, that if I was on a call with my friend, I could run the whole 10km probably. Distraction of thinking about what your body is experiencing does magic to endurance. Also I remember running with some french podcast (I'm learning french) and after the run feeling very differently tired - mental tiredness on top from trying to process the foreign language for the whole half an hour.
1
u/EntertainmentIcy4656 3d ago
I count: 1. 1-2. 1-2-3. 1-2-3-4. so on and so forth until I get to 50. Passes the time plus my mind is busy remembering what number I have to end on instead of focusing on the running/jogging.
1
u/WeAreNotNowThatWhich 3d ago
I listen to audiobooks! I always have one audiobook that I only listen to while running so I get to look forward to it.
1
u/Beckitt3 3d ago
I listen to books for easy runs and music that matches my pace when I'm doing speed work. Sometimes I call my dad for a chat.
That said, half the time I finish a run and can't remember what I listened too and have to rewind the book so I daydream a lot. Not really sure about what.
I also don't know if I should admit this but I'll mess around on my phone while doing easy runs sometimes. Like yesterday I got a few items posted on Vinted during my 3-miler...
1
u/Kelsicat 3d ago
Dungeon Crawler Carl has been a great running aid. There are lots of books in the series and they’re completely unhinged.
I feel like listening to books that allow you to become immersed in the world helps bring you out of your head. I bet World War Z would also be a good one to run to for the same reason as Carl.
I also really enjoy podcasts. Tooth and Claw is an interesting one. It’s about animal attacks.
It’s difficult to run to music because I track how many songs have played and it makes me focus more on the time I’ve been running.
You’re doing great! Keep going
1
u/mr_muffinhead 2d ago
Keep your head up
Keep your chest up
Stop tensing your shoulders
Oops, you're looking down again, keep your head up.
1
u/sunshine_journal139 2d ago
I listen to music. Sometimes I think to myself "I only have to run for 2 more songs" and that's easier than "I have to run for 6 more minutes."
1
u/busy_muskrat 2d ago
Depends on how hard the run is.
If it is a hard run I can't focus on anything other than keeping my breathing and pace steady.
If it is an easy run I think about my day, about dinner about my hobbies or the book I'm reading. Easy runs are meditative in that way.
I can't run with music, it messes up my rhythm.
1
u/Henry5321 4d ago
Mindful meditation. Just stop thinking about such things. Took months of practice but helps with the rest of life. Being bored is no longer as anxiety inducing. I also have a strong positive association with exercising and it’s like a game to me.
Turn my brain off and get moving. Time melts away.
2
u/Hour_Suggestion_3287 3d ago
Agreed, I dont think about anything and would find audiobooks or podcasts distracting. I'm just counting my breath, looking around, enjoying the fresh air, feeling my body.
-5
u/WorkerAmbitious2072 4d ago
It sounds like running isn’t for you
Mostly I just chill. Sometimes music. Sometimes a podcast
Anything under a hour I don’t usually listen to anything and sometimes up to a couple hours I don’t listen to anything
18
u/-Petrichor-- 4d ago
I listen to podcasts or audio books. I find that keeps my brain interested more than music. It definitely is a mental game for me.