The looniness of the long distance runner
Some thoughts from an old codger
Mind and body are totally connected. Training is as much about training your mind as it is about training your body. e.g. Before a training run you can sometimes feel very tired only to find when you get into the run that it was in fact a psychological tiredness. Mind and body are fully integrated. In 2006 I had abysmal performances at Goatfell and Trapain Law. I felt so drained physically that I even went to the doctor for a check up. However, physically I was fine but mentally I was a dope!
There is obviously a race pace that is in your mind when you set out, but I would contend that when contemplating a long distance race you could get your best time if you run as fast as you can for as long as you can. This isn’t saying what you are doing is wrong it is just another take on what you might try. I read a lot of long distance race reports about dissatisfied performances. Anyone can complete a marathon, in fact you could walk it in a little over 6 hours, so it’s the pace that kills you. Imagine you have your race all planned out; 9 min/miles for the first ½ then 10 min/miles for the second ½. During the race, after 5 miles, you look at your watch and see that you are 15 secs/mile under schedule what do you say to yourself? “By Heck! I’m going too slow”, now what do you do? speed up and over cook it or accept that you are slow and consequently mentally give up a bit and become even more despondent. After the same 5 miles your watch says your are 15 secs/mile too fast, “By Heck! I’m going too fast”, now what do you do? slow down and never realise what you might have done if you had kept going at that pace.
Come on! The only really important time is the time on the clock when you cross the finish line. In the 1970’s Ian Thomson, British and European marathon champion, was a very respectable 10k track runner who ran his fastest ever 10k during his 1st marathon. What would have happened if he had said to himself “By Heck! I’m going too fast!” He might just have slowed down and, therefore, never realised his potential to become the champion marathon runner that he was.
Last week I saw a runner in Holyrood Park, with a mobile phone in one hand, carrying a water bottle in the other & listening to his MP3. I also saw one guy in the Edinburgh Marathon talking on his mobile. If you are going to just run a marathon to finish it or raise funds for charity then by all means plug in your I-pod, chat to your pals or dress up as a rhinoceros; but if you want to get a pb then throw away your watch and MP3 player at start of race. Focus on your race, the person in front and not the watch or listening to The Scissor Sisters. Whilst “You can’t teach a carthorse to sprint” you can “Run as fast as you can for as long as you can” and then make sure you cross the finish line! Sometimes I have been disappointed with my time, but I have never been disappointed with my attitude or commitment during the race. I am satisfied that I have given it my best shot.
My best times (in the 70’s & 80’s) are:
Marathon: 2hr 42 mins.
10 mile: 57 minutes
½ marathon: 1hr 17 mins.
Ben Nevis 1hr 50 mins.Comment Tony Stapley
If you only run on roads you may not have bumped into "off road Tony" our man on the hills and trails. Often the sole PRC representative at the the more lively races involving inclines, mud and heather, Tony has (ironically) stopped running on tarmac for health reasons. Just back running again after a bad fall at Goatfell this year it is Tony who regularly offers lifts to these races. Feel free to respond with any comments. Myself, I find an MP3 player works well while pounding out long training runs or a boring marathon course like Lochaber.
