After really struggling through the last few minutes of an FTP test I wondered how hard everyone can push themselves?
In my early 20s when suitably motivated(a bad football score, women or work problems usually helped) I could either run or ride up a hill to the point where my vision would start to grey up around the edges and I would feel faint. I’m 29 now and I haven’t been able to push myself that hard at all recently despite being pretty determined beforehand.
Are many people able to push themselves that hard? Is it easier to get to that stage if you are less trained and less fit?
Is it easier to get to that stage if you are less trained and less fit?For me, no. If I’m out of shape after several months off, a “hard” run or bike or swim usually just wears me out before I feel that I’m really pushing myself. When everything is in place and I’m building towards a race it’s another story. I can get myself pretty numb and woozy during hard trainer or swim workouts, but I’m hardest hit by pushing too hard on a tempo run. When I’m feeling like I’m about to pass out and/or lose my balance I snap out of it and stop.
During an FTP test I push to the point where I’m breathing very heavily, sweating bullets, vision narrows, and I feel light-headed. I can’t replicate that RPE in either swimming or running.
Edit: oh yeah, did I mention my legs are really really burning
In high school I trained with some retired special ops guys when they found out I wanted to join. Went until I passed out several times. Really do not have any desire to go there again, no point. I can get close where I am blacking out and get tunnel vision but even avoid doing that now.
When I’m untrained, Intervals are impossible when I first start. then, they get easier as I get used to the distance and intensity. I need a couple really hard sessions to breakthrough to hit my next plateau. But even when I’m gasping for air, vision doesn’t go.
I’ve never Thought about my ability to see as a limiting factor
Much of the “going hard” seems to be more a mental barrier than a physiological ones. Whilst absolute power will improve with fitness, the ability to push the existing limits is one that needs to be trained in of itself. Focus being a key point.
Samuele Marcora is one sports scientist that’s looking a lot into the mental barriers in relation to fitness. Some very interesting findings thus far.
I have two “dark places” I’ve been to, one was an all-out 500m row, the other was a 20km TT… I don’t remember finishing either, and vomit was involved.
If you’ve not ventured into the hurt locker before, or often, it can really suck when you go there.
As you do it more often you know the pain, it doesn’t get easier, but you do learn that you can cope with it and that it is a temporary thing.
^^^^^^^ this
I find that if I’m not in top form my body just won’t get to the suffering stage before everything just feels so crappy that my mind isn’t in it anymore. When I’m in race shape I can put myself into a space where it’s pure agony but I can stay right on the edge of total collapse even though it’s pure agony…my will to finish asap can overrule the intense desire to slow down. The key for me is that years of bike racing taught me what athletic suffering without actually damaging myself feels like… It hurts now just to think about it…
Honestly, not hard enough especially on the run, not being willing to go well into the hurt locker at sprint distance really holds me back.
Same here. On the bike I’ve definitely been in another world getting off the trainer and once during a mtb race (scary). Seems harder to get myself into that deep deep hurt on a run though. Close maybe during a track workout but not the same. Need to though.
There used to be a video kicking around - can’t find it now - of Chris Hoy doing extended sprint intervals on the trainer. He used to set up crash mats either side of the bike so that he could push himself to failing point, then literally fall off. Maybe that’s what it takes to be the best track sprinter in the world…
I want to push myself…I really do but as a “semi professional” asthmatic I hate the feeling of being unable to breath which is kind of fundamental to pushing yourself.
Ever since the build to my last race, I dread the trainer like never before. I haven’t pushed myself on the bike since early December. I thought the desire to do those intervals would have come back by now, but nope. I tried an FTP test 2 weeks ago and gave up before I finished the 20 minute interval. I need to suck it up, I guess – is 2x20 really that bad?
Interesting that all these ST (excuse the ‘ahem’) athletes can manage to push themselves to these extraordinary levels of output yet when we watch the Olympics they just seem to push hard but are generally ok to run around after or give an interview or wave happily to the crowd having just been crowned Olympic champion aka the best in the world at that time.
The ST athletes are either harder, softer, or full of BS. If vomit was the litmus test, why don’t we see spew all over the finish line of the athletic track and in the pool gutters!
Think about it!
Edit
Probably a bit early for the ‘I pushed so hard that I…’ Group. My apologies. Probably shortened the response numbers now by half
When I used to row vomiting or just collapsing off the erg were considered reasonable efforts. I don’t miss those 2k tests.
I’ve done a few long climbs where you push yourself to the point of tunnel vision, but nothing further.
I think the better shape you are in, the deeper in to the pain cave you can go.
I remember those days in college when for 2k tests a trash can would be placed next to each erg - good times!
I think that 5’ and 10’ power tests on the bike are much more painful than 20’ - maybe it’s just me, though. I’ve seen higher heart rate on a 5’ test than at the end of a 5k run, and generally my run HR is 5-10 beats higher than on the bike at the same RPE.
Interesting that all these ST (excuse the ‘ahem’) athletes can manage to push themselves to these extraordinary levels of output yet when we watch the Olympics they just seem to push hard but are generally ok to run around after or give an interview or wave happily to the crowd having just been crowned Olympic champion aka the best in the world at that time.
The ST athletes are either harder, softer, or full of BS. If vomit was the litmus test, why don’t we see spew all over the finish line of the athletic track and in the pool gutters!
Think about it!
Edit
Probably a bit early for the ‘I pushed so hard that I…’ Group. My apologies. Probably shortened the response numbers now by half
Exactly.
Ever since the build to my last race, I dread the trainer like never before. I haven’t pushed myself on the bike since early December. I thought the desire to do those intervals would have come back by now, but nope. I tried an FTP test 2 weeks ago and gave up before I finished the 20 minute interval. I need to suck it up, I guess – is 2x20 really that bad?
I am going to do a 2x20 style test today. What I have noticed is that if you haven’t pushed that hard for a while, do the test but don’t worry too much about the result i.e. don’t go quite as hard as you can. Then the following week try again properly. Not only is it mentally easier the second time round and you’ll probably make a better job of it, but you’ll also have the benefit of both markers to give a really good indication as to where you are.
Interesting that all these ST (excuse the ‘ahem’) athletes can manage to push themselves to these extraordinary levels of output yet when we watch the Olympics they just seem to push hard but are generally ok to run around after or give an interview or wave happily to the crowd having just been crowned Olympic champion aka the best in the world at that time.
The ST athletes are either harder, softer, or full of BS. If vomit was the litmus test, why don’t we see spew all over the finish line of the athletic track and in the pool gutters!
Think about it!
Edit
Probably a bit early for the ‘I pushed so hard that I…’ Group. My apologies. Probably shortened the response numbers now by half
I have no illusions about my athletic prowess, I know I’m in the softer category compared to the truly gifted. Heck, my hardest ever effort wouldn’t compare with an elite’s weekly interval session.
But I still like to race like cross country skiers who fall down right after the finish line because leaving it all on the course is still leaving it all on the course even if I am going slower. That they can bounce back up and give interviews while I’d still be down sucking air just proves I shouldn’t quit my day job…
