Mental Barriers

Running is a physical sport, there is no debate about that. It takes almost every muscle and every body part to be engaged so that the body can propel itself forward. Several factors play into how fast we run, these are: VO2 Max, Running efficiency, etc. These too are all related to the physical acts of running. Sweat, heavy breathing, pain...all come as part of the activity. So does exhiliration, increased energy levels, and stamina, and these too are all physcial.

So what about the mental aspects of running? Many people who are not involved in the sport think that running is boring, and not mentally engaging. However, I argue to the contrary. For me today, the mental part of the sport is what I believe is holding me back and hindering my progress at this point. There are times, on ling runs or recovery runs where I can let go and just zone out, but when it comes to reaching my goals, the mental aspect of it is a huge weight on my shoulders. These barriers are purely mental as the following example will show:

19:00 5k

40:00 10K

1:30:00 1/2 (which I have hit)

3:10:00 Full


All of these are times I am capable of reaching. I know that in the case of the 1/2. Broken down, these numbers become a little more daunting. For example, the 1/2 marathon now equates to a sub 7:00 minute pace, the 10K becomes a sub 6:30 pace, and so on.

So can you see where I am going? Mentally, the barrier between the 7:00 pace and 6:50 pace seems like a lot. I am no longer running in that comfort zone. This goes for any pace at any distance. Now, I know I cannot simply go from a 6:20 5K pace to a 6:00 minute pace based on mental toughness, but I do know that 6:20 to 6:10 is achievable. Then I can take on the challenge of 6:00. I am talking about the little steps here. Breaking into the sub 7 or sub 6:30 zone...If I can get through it mentally, the physical pain and discomforts, should not be an issue...then the positive physical side of it should take over.

It seems like a "chicken and the egg" thing. What do I need first, the mental or physical? I would clearly say the physical...the ability to go out and run. From there, the mental barriers can be tackled and broken down accordingly. For me, I fall back to my training...and remember, you race the way you train.

Sub 3:10 still haunts me...I have come within a minute. I know now, this is purely mental.