How does one get past mental running barriers?
I used to be a competitive runner -- my best 5k is 17:10. For years, I was able to train hard, push myself, and rarely felt like running was ever "too hard".
In recent years, running has become more and more difficult, but mostly mentally. I get discouraged by even the most mild discomfort, and take walk breaks often. I still run a decent pace -- and can sometimes run with ease. But I just don't seem able to push past the discomfort like I used to be able to. Then, I get discouraged and the cycle continues.
Are there some tricks I can try to get past these barriers?
(3)3 Comments
Sorted by latest first Latest Oldest Best
I don't know the "correct" answer backed by research, but I'll share three of my tricks.
Use other people as motivators. This can include actually running with another individual or a group, preferably running the pace you are striving for. If you cannot find a partner or group, you can find a populated path with other runners, skaters, and cyclists and chase them.
Run a common route where you can begin to use landmarks as checkpoints, and instead of mentally wrapping your run around the entire distance, focus on each individual checkpoint and treat each checkpoint as a new run. I also like to mix this with a favorite album or playlist and use an individual song as my "mini" race. I start associating landmarks and songs together, and I get a good benchmark on my pace depending when I pass the landmark during a given song or playlist.
Find objects on your running route that repeat, such as a fence or broken center lines on a paved tracked or less traveled road, and use them to get into and maintain a running speed and gate. Focus on maintaining the same number of steps for a given interval of objects you pass.
It could be due to your vitamin D levels not being high enough. As pointed out in this article and numerous other articles, there is probably a link between having high vitamin D levels (calcidiol levels above 100 nmol/l) and athletic performance. My personal experience is that I have made great progress in improving my fitness levels after taking 10,000 IU/day of vitamin D. My calcidiol levels have been consistently above 200 nmol/l in the last few years and I've gone from struggeling to maintain a routine of running 20 minutes, 3 times per week to running 50 minutes, 5 times per week. My resting heart rate has gone down from about 46 bpm to 37 bpm.
This happened to me and could be the symptom of a physiological change related to poor diet which is manifesting itself as a lack of mental fortitude. I don't adhere to the pseudoscience of "finding" a motivation, because in reality your motivations today will quickly fade. For me personally, when I was heavily training for endurance this happened within a 6 month period. I completely lost mental fortitude and slight pain would cause me to stop or slowdown completely. It almost seemed like a physical depression.
I massively increased my post-workout carbohydrate intake, which consisted of around 4-5 large peaches and other fruits. This is essentially when I learned the importance of post-workout nutrition.
In my opinion it comes down to the neurotransmitters in your brain and the physical resources your body has, not a lack of motivation or fortitude.
Perhaps increase your carbohydrate intake pre and post-workout, or increase supplementation with vitamins and minerals.
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © freshhoot.com2025 All Rights reserved.