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tburt75
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Joined: 30 Aug 2002
Posts: 346
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 Posted: 05/15/03 - 22:00 Post subject: And now, a word from our sponsor..(Actually, an observation)
Something i wanted to mention about my Half IM race this past weekend. When i was at mile 12 i started to pick up the pace. From mile 1-9 i ran a comfortable pace, a pace i could keep all day. One thing i think is important in racing and beating your old times is not only training more, but the willingness to race at an uncomfortable level for a significant amount of time. For instance when i did my 6 mile run at 9 minutes a mile because i felt good, i was running at an uncomfortable pace...a pace where if you go any faster or slower you might fall off the edge and into a wall of sorts. Its a place in your mind you're much more willing to go to in the early stages of a run, but what makes an athlete a GREAT athlete, is the willingness and DESIRE to go to that place...that uncomfortable place where you're body does not want to be...but you're mind forces it to be. I don't feel this so much when i'm swimming or biking - i like pain on the bike. I guess in swimming it would be straining hard in the pool, but keeping that 3 stroke breathing pattern.
Part of training is not only increasing endurance, but also to give you a taste of that uncomfortability you will NEED to be in, if you want to place high in a race. Save the pain for training, save the uncomfortable pace for racing.
The only way i can describe this uncomfortable place is to describe the place you are in when you need to puke, but can't because it won't come up. You teeter between feeling good and feeling totally awefull. The next time you're out and pushing yourself, try and get to that place, thats your race pace.
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