Why do we slow down?

I know I have already written some pieces about the role of the mind in running but I feel like sharing a few more thoughts on the subject.

I seem to remember talking a lot about how we must be disciplined and strong minded to follow marathon plans, complete the session that’s required, rest when we might not feel like it, etc. But then there’s the mental toughness during a run. That’s a different type of mental effort.

When you ask a 5 year old child to run as fast as possible around a track, inevitably, they will set out as fast as they can for the first 50 meters and then gradually start fading. Some won’t even complete the distance. The obvious reason is that they are too young to know how to pace themselves. They know the here and now. Would it be, physiologically speaking, possible for them to run the entire distance at the pace they set out? Why do they slow down? What about grown ups? Why do we slow down? Is it the mind telling us we’re red lining and that we might be in serious danger? How many times have you fainted or passed out from the effort? Could we truly hurt ourselves from the effort if we don’t slow down?

There’s plenty of theories based on scientific research and quite clear cut physiological reactions and explanations for the eventual slow down. I will certainly not go into those explanations. In simple terms, without enough oxygen, your muscles convert glycogen into energy less efficiently, and the body fatigues more quickly, which eventually forces you to slow down or stop.

But why? Could we trick the mind into thinking we’re ok? Where is the actual limit? If we didn’t feel pain could the body keep going?

Think about being in a race in the chasing position. At whatever the level. You are really struggling and hurting but get a glimpse of the runner in front of you and they are struggling even more, or you just tell yourself that. You get the energy from where you didn’t think there was any and push over the final 200 meters to finish strong.

So even though for periods of the race you felt like you couldn't keep up the pace and had to slow down, it turns out there was enough energy left to push for the final kick.

The question is then, why do we slow down when we know there’s something there? I personally think too many of us are afraid of the pain!! We don’t want to feel like we could not run for another meter for a considerable part of the race. We can mentally take the pain for the last 30 seconds or even a couple of minutes but we don’t want to hurt for 15 minutes, 35 minutes, or even an hour.

I say don’t be afraid! Let go!! Fight to stay on pace. Convince yourself you can hold on. It is ok to hurt. Tell yourself here and now, this is the moment, it will soon be over and then you will not be able to go back and change things.

I often find we don’t give ourselves enough time to live with the pain. At the first indication of pain we just slow down, when we should really be spending a few minutes trying to get a good feel for it, getting used to it. I seem to remember using the expression “getting to know the pain” in previous posts. Become friends with it. Challenge it and dare it. Be convinced you will come on top.

We often think we know our limits but this is rarely the case. We’re capable of more, better and faster for longer. Just try it!

Merry Christmas and happy running!