Brain training

[Sandy]

      Whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right." I'm not sure who first said this, but I quote it often. Think about what those words mean with relationship to the things you do in your daily life. If you go into something with a positive attitude, it usually works out ok. If you go into something thinking it is doomed from the start, the result is usually negative. Now think about it in relation to your chosen sport.  Some runners ?can?t? run in the heat of summer while others ?can?t? run in the winter.  For others their ?can not?s? relate to nutrition, or the time of day and so on. 
      According to Matt Fitzgerald; Author and Triathlon/Running Coach; your brain dictates everything that occurs when you run and race, and that it?s possible to override the negative messages that affect you.  According to studies, our brains are constantly scanning body temperature, organs, muscles etc and then sending out instructions in response.  This lead to the discovery of ?anticipatory regulation? as stated by exercise physiologist Timothy Noakes where the brain after scanning the body anticipates how much longer you need to run and sets your pace accordingly to prevent your body from reaching a failure point prematurely.   In one study participants slowed their pace when running in a hot environment.  They were not conscience of it and it occurred within five minutes of starting their event.  What this means is that participants changed their pace not based on what was occurring but in anticipation of what might occur.   
     There are a few different theories on how to combat anticipatory regulation.  The most easily manipulated is nutrition.  Proper hydration coupled with balanced electrolytes help to maintain body temperature, ensuring that the brain doesn?t interpret organ damage due to increased internal temperature.  While ?hitting the wall? has long been blamed on reduced carbohydrate stores, it is now believed that muscle damage from the liberation of protein for energy is read by the brain as self-damaging, anticipating premature failure.  Endurance athletes covering 42k or more who ingest protein as part of their race nutrition find they slow less late in a race.
     Finally it is believed that you can train your brain to become familiar with the fatigue of a race by doing some race pace specific training.   

     




     At the Angus Glen half marathon on Nov 2 Celin Alexiuk race walked her tenth half marathon of 2008 crossing the finish line in 2:34:52, finishing first in her age group and third women out of 59.  Celin was joined by Morgan Walby (1:54:15) and Julianne Schwartz (2:19:00) in the half and Tashana Aziz (1:40:28) and Heather Hedley (1:00:32) who both completed the 10k.
     Local Ironman brothers now living in Oshawa, Jon and Ben Bell finished their second ironman events of the year competing at IM Florida.  The brothers finished in 10:38:13 and 11:27:00 respectively and were joined by Uncle Lindsay Bell who crossed the line in 11:53:45.
        Eric Lindenberg qualified for Boston at the NYC Marathon finishing in 3:30:50.

[Millsy]

 "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're probably right."  -Henry Ford
  A great quote

[chattyfeet]

I agree with everything re: brain training BUT I simply ENJOY running in cooler temps more than in warm temps.  Can I train my brain so that I enjoy running in the heat as much as i do the cool weather?  I don't think so...but I could be wrong.   

I know that I CAN run in the heat if I set my mind to it, but I think it's our personalities that dictate what we actually like better, don't you?? 

[SNOWRUNNER]

It may not be as much of a personality preference to choose your run environment as much as how you may perceive a challenge.
 Meaning.. i have poor eye sight. I have a difficulty running trails and in the dark. But i take special steps to ensure my safety in both environments. I  believe that you can be successful in any arena by following propper steps and taking care.
 I have had mishaps in these areas .. boy!! ... but  i see them as different running so i adjust my strategy and say...bring it on!!... so it may not be the course, but how we look at it...

[Sandy]

I think by nature (personality) some people are more comfortable staying inside their box or comfort zone and others enjoy the challenge of expanding their box.  I think either way is great but the box definatly limits our experiences.  To grow we must push the limits which opens new horizons.  Purposefully making ourselves uncomfortable does not come naturally but those who do it on a regular basis find that thing that was not natural or made them uncomfortable becomes part of every day life.

As it applies to running in the heat or running hills or in my case speed work on a track, when done on a regular schedule becomes less dreaded and more the norm.  "If you think you can or you can't" really does mean if you wrap your mind around it, accept it, it will be done. 

Enjoying running in cooler temps does not mean that running in the heat has to be the polar opposite ie. hated.  I much prefer running in the heat and would take a 30 degree day over a 0 degree day in a heart beat BUT I do appreciate a cool, fall day in the woods, or a run in a freash fallen snow, or the silence of an evening snowfall on bare streets.  Running has made winter tolerable for me even if I dream of the Florida sun until I get warmed up.

As long as you can find a way to keep running, it's all good.

[patti]

I think you can miss out on alot of fun things in life if you set limits and say, I can't.  I do not enjoy running in the winter, but I would have missed out on some great races like Around the Bay if I didn't get my butt out the door.  I also know 19 people including myself who would have missed out on Marine Corps if we hadn't trained through the summer....but I LOVE THE HEAT!!! I also have less responsibilities with my 3 boys and hubby in the summer, no school, or projects less activites in my house.
Interesting topic this week Sandy...I quite liked it.
And congrats to the Bell boys including Uncle Lindsay!!!
patti

[Celin]

That's a neat concept, Sandy.  I never really thought of it like that.  I hate the heat and those races I did horrible.  I never really thought of it as setting myself up for failure, but it makes sense.  I always thought I just didn't do well in the heat.  Now you have me thinking.  I love walking in the cool days.  I wonder if I change how I talk to myself and rather than saying I hate the heat find a more positive reframe what would happen.  I'll have to try that out this summer and see if I can improve my time in the heat.  I'll have to really assess myself talk this winter during my training.

I love this topic.  I'm actually looking forward to summer to try it out.   

Congrats to the Bell brothers and Uncle Lindsay as well.  Awesome job!!!

[tire guy]

I love my box......it's warm in here

[Sandy]

 

[chattyfeet]

I think we need to start a new running group....Heat Haters.  We'll all meet next summer and try to help each other get through runs in the warm weather...Sandy could be our "coach".  Whaddya think?  there seems to be a few of us out there...I would actually PAY to do something like this....Sandy??  A summer running clinic to help people like me!

[patti]

You'd get hooked!!!! The sun is our friend!!!
patti

[SNOWRUNNER]

If you want something bad enough you will suck it up and do it.. Working long hours outside  all day.. ha.. then coming home to go back out wearing only a small percentage of what you had on all day... to go run .... not only is it out of the box... sometimes i think that i`m out of my mind... but once i`m out there i get that grin going and i`m off..... and that really is a challenge to do , but it`s worth it.. the day it`s not is the day i quit.

[Sandy]

I'd love to!  First steaming hot day of summer we'll head out and "beat the heat".  I'll hold you to that Chattyfeet. 

[Jon]

Hmmm, next thing you know we'll be following Simon Whitefield and enclosing the area around the spinners and treadmills so we can build a climate controlled area at the club house to crank up the heat and really suffer! 
Hey, if we built it big enough, we could use it as a sauna for the clubhouse as well....might get smelly, but thats a small price to pay   
Jon

[Sandy]

Yeah or have a dryer moved in and point the vent right at you when you spin or run like they do to prepare for Badwater.