3 Unusual Tips for Running Without Pain or Boredom
(i.e., stop making excuses, you *can* run — and it may even change your life)
IT’S ALL MENTAL
A couple months ago, there was a popular post in a North Brooklyn Runners forum titled “Pineapple Juice, Ginger & Coconut Water”, about using said ingredients in lieu of NSAID’s and other running pain managment strategies. I posted something like this about my MIND pain-healing strategy:
“I healed a super sharp ‘never had before’ knee pain I got at mile 13 of the Finger Lakes 50K 2013 by using my mind. Not kidding. I thought I would drop out, the pain went on for miles, but I tried this “mind thing” and it worked! (I even have a witness — I was running with Mishka Shubaly for part of it). Pain disappeared after about 15 minutes of intense mind focus, I finished great, I think I placed in top third females. I did the same thing again during North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Bear Mountain this May. I was undertrained, tired, in tons of pain, and it was muddy and wet from heavy rain. (Many runners DNF’d that race). Again, I finished great, and beat my time from the previous year”.
Here’s how: I focused my mind, listened to only my breath, and shifted my energy…continuously repeated healing and running “mantras” in my mind. (“My knee feels great!” “Strong, Fast, Easy, Smooth” “My legs are full of energy!”) I moved the painful feelings away using my mind and positive thoughts (notice mantras don’t use “no”, “not” or any other negative words…only positive words work). Remember, the brain is what causes pain, not anything else. Sounds nuts but it works and it’s f’ing cool. Mind-Body connection and our brain’s power is fascinating. There’s a lot of research happening around it, even this whole institute at Harvard.
For more about running with the breath, I love Chi Running and recommend it to everyone. The book Full Catastrophe Living comes highly recommended for dealing with injuries, pain, etc. (No, I don’t make any money off these Amazon.com links).
RUN…BUT NOT MUCH
Yes, of course you do need to get out and run. But many believe running too much can not only injure you, but bore you or burn you out. Adding in a mix of fun cross-training is an answer.
The “RUN LESS, RUN FASTER FIRST Training Program” is what first got me started on this “less is more” running thing. It made sense, especially after a serious injury I had years ago. I now only run about 3x a week — Tempo Run, Long Run, and (gasp!) Speed Workout. But I do 3–4 other workouts a week, some hard, some light: weight training, plyometrics, cardio kickboxing class with Amira, bike, yoga, spin class, Pilates (with Elgin), the climbing machine with actual stairs.
I’ve met many others who train like this too. Charlie O’Donnell told me he didn’t really train for his marathon last year, he just bikes everywhere, kayaks, does yoga, plays softball, street hockey, even shuffleboard. Seems to work, he finished and fast.
JUST HAVE FUN
People tell me they get bored running, they need to listen to music, etc. They key is to make running fun, not work. (I haven’t worn headphones running in over 5 years). Here are some ideas for how to keep it FUN:
First, join a running group — there are many everywhere! I made some amazing friends from running groups. Take a “class” — yes, a class. NYRR, Jack Rabbit, and other running stores have groups/classes. I met one of my best friends at NYRR. Plus, if you pay for a training group, you’ll actually go to it.
Next, start running races. Races are basically PARTIES while running! Find some fun, odd ones like Zombie Runs, Midnight Half Marathons. There are even super-fun races like the Burning Man 50K (also at Burning Man: a 5K, a “tough mudder”-like race, and a trithalon).
Remember, try starting your days even with short runs. Keep record of how the rest of your day went. These results alone will convince you to keep running.
Finally, don’t take this shit so seriously. Have fun and enjoy it. Go to brunch and eat bacon after a run. Run eating pizza. Run drinking booze. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t drink that much, but I do love me some bourbon or a bloody mary during a long run — as seen here in this crazy video.
RunFun! .OA.
