I am wondering what people think about when they are training. I generally train alone and have the opportunity to think about a lot of things. I usually think about the days events, plan the upcoming week, plan my training schedule in my head, look at the scenery and such… But what do you all think about???
David J
ASU SUN DEVILS
I try to achieve that blissful place where I am thinking about absolutely nothing, and I usually achieve it a couple of times in a good, long workout. The irony is that I don’t realize that I’ve had one of those moments until I become aware it ended.
When I am not trying to be Buddha, I let my mind wander, and take care of the things it needs to. As you say, I will ponder the day’s events, look around me, sometimes think about topics on this forum or what I want to blog.
There are two things that I can get too worked up about when I think about them while running: This forum and stupid drivers. If I let myself dwell on some of the things we discuss on this forum, or on the person in the Escalade who just tried to kill me, I can waste a whole workout fixating on it.
One thing I want to mention: When I am swimming, all I think about, for the most part, is swimming. Occasionally I will think about lane politics, but only if someone is being a dumbass at that moment. And when I am biking, I mostly think about biking. My mind wanders most when I am running.
I try to spend some time during every workout focusing on technique, and I try to spend some time just doing the activity.
On interval days, bike or run, I’m concentrating on the displays of the power meter and HR monitor.
Otherwise, I’m thinking about my training plans, upcoming races, or recovery plan after the workout.
In the offseason, I spend a lot of time on the running trails and bike roads just considering the world around me.
Swimming. . .“I hate this” mantra plays like broken tape. . .ALWAYS!
I always wonder what other people think about as well. I’m so focused on the moment the whole time, I hardly ever let my mind wander.
Swim: How is this pace? Uh oh, is my shoulder pinching… keep the strokes long, relax, shit too many stokes that length, how much farther?
Bike: How is my cadence? Am I pushing too hard? Should I push harder? Does my speed make sense with the wind direction? Do I need to adjust this workout?
Run: How is this pace? Is my knee/ankle/shin flaring up? Stay relaxed, breath deep? what is my exertion level?
The thing is I love every second of it, although sometimes it can be a bit much. This year I added in a HR monitor, and it takes a little bit of the thinking out of it. It is so refreshing for me though, just to focus on the simple task of forward propulsion. It flushes all the complications of my day out the window.
Seems like my wife is the complete opposite, she’s always looking around and thinking about other things besides the task at hand.
Are you normally riding on a deserted road or in traffic?
Doing the latter, better do not let your mind wander a single moment!
You snooze, you loose… Big time!
Adrian
Man, I think about everything, but mostly I try to focus on what I am doing.
Races,past or future,or ponder life,kind of like Scott Tinely
.
I think about this clearing by a pond. There is a tree… and a midget on a tricycle, in a cowboy suit. My grandmother is playing a slot machine and winning! There is this beautiful blonde in lingerie, walking to me with a pitcher of beer in each hand.
----->Trent
When I am on my rolllers I think about one goal; a chilled can of beer that I place on top of the telly at the beginning of my spin. I can usually BS myself into going longer and harder by focusing on how it will taste at the end.
Swimming: Stroke, body roll, counting, usually at some point I’m thinking was that 450 or 500. Lately it’s been man where were these girls in bikinis all winter; I hope the rudder isn’t throwing off my training.
Running: Shoulders down hands relaxed, wow look at those llamas (I run on the same trail a couple times a week, I always pick up the pace past the llama’s and camels at that are some guys has because all I know is that they spit and it would be a long 5 miles covered in mucus)
Bike: focus on the voice in my head and keep it from saying stuff like this sucks my legs hurt I should slow down also I try and keep track of neat stuff on the side of the road; this week it was a brand new with tags Washington Redskins hat (still there this morning) and a Hustler magazine. Those are the types of things that make me wonder what type of guy doesn’t keep track of his porn unless it was ‘used up’
When I’m not daydreaming about general stuff or imagining in great detail how I am beating the snot out of the driver who just yelled something at me or the guy doing breast stroke who just got into my lane, I imagine I am in some epic race like my 3rd or 4th Tour victory or the Olympics, etc. If I’m feeling good I imagine I am destroying my competition and the TV commentators are lauding my greatness. (Phil Ligget loves me as does Bob Costas, who has repeatedly told me I am his best interview ever). If I am feeling bad or the weather sucks, I imagine I am overcoming my great pain and distress to win the Tour AGAIN or pick up my 7th gold in swimming. The TV commentators are lauding my mental and physical toughness. Or in my more rational moments I just imagine I am me in some race executing my plan and technique flawlessly and turning in a new PR performance.
Doesn’t everyone think like this?
I think about all of the stuff mentioned so far…but also about food. Particularly near the end of a session.
I used to be in a pretend stage race and need to close gaps, sprint and solo to victory. Now I get lost in sorting out life and wonder if this current work out is a waste of time. Usually when running I think back to the Army and how I need to “drive on”. If that don’t work I think of those who died in forced marches and those who had to force themselves on in horrible situations. Not that this has become drudgery, but I like to remind myself that this isn’t really that hard, and wonder at their perserverence and wonder how I got so soft. When it’s cold and wet on the bike, I’ll picture myself as Johan Museuw and slog on like a trooper.
I should add that all thoughts are erased and changed if a chick comes into view or the thought of a chick crosses the mind. Then fantasy takes over.
First phase–At the beginning of most training sessions I am usually thinking about how tired I am, how much my joints hurt, how I will never make it through my planned session, etc. I have to push through this phase in order to get to the next phase.
Second phase–In the middle of a good session, I will shift to thinking about problems at work, home, etc., and will often find solutions to problems I have otherwise been unable to focus clearly on.
Last phase–Towards the end of a good training session, I often achieve a trance-like state where I am not really consciously thinking about anything but almost dreaming (sex oftens enters these “thoughts”.)
If I am having a bad training session, I never get past the first phase of thought. Sometimes I will get past it, but let my conscious thoughts about pain take over. I think the second two phases are a mechanism that allows our bodies to do things that our minds are telling it not to do. Focusing on things like time, heart rate, traffic, trail conditions, training partners, etc. can pull you out of this state and back into reality where you start thinking about hurting again.
Exactly what I do as well. A continual largely non-verbal physiological inventory interrupted by an environmental risk assessment (is that dumbass going to pull out in front of me?) when required.
If I thought about the days events or work or making plans I would quit training and take up recreational drugs since I would have no other means of escape and being entirely in the present.
That’s funny. I’ve ditched the heart rate monitor this year in order to take the thinking out of each workout and I just go on feel.
But the same same result: it’s outrageously nice to spend an hour or two just feeling and not thinking.
matt
Last Saturday’s ride:
I’m heading out! Jeez, those men take longer to get ready than a bunch of grandmas.
Wonder how long it will take for P3BL to catch me?
Ooh, van der Heyden winery! Open until 6PM. Might have to stop in and make a purchase when we are finished.
What a nice day…sunny, warm, the wine country! Flat roads!
Oh, there’s P3BL. “Hi”. Let’s suck that wheel for a while. Dang, he’s putting the hammer down. Ride your own pace.
Wonder when Jojo will catch me. Can’t let Fred or Fernando catch me.
Hey, check out that Cervelo!! SWEET! (Time lag) Hey, wasn’t that Bjorn???
Wow, that first loop went by fast! This is fun!
(Later) There’s that Cervelo again. That IS Bjorn!
Hey, there’s Fred. He must have turned around early.
Holy @#$! I cannot believe I just went through 100 miles in 5:46. NO FREAKIN WAY!
This wind sucks! My back is tight.
Are we finished yet? What are we going to eat? Crap, I have to run still.
Yea, the strawberry man! That means less than a mile to go.
Hey! My computer only says 108 miles. P3BL said it was 112 miles. 6:10 time…I’ll take it.
clm
I first think about how I feel for the first few miles while warming up. If I feel good, I then think of my workout plan or goal for that session. Once I start with the planned session, I think about my breathing. Is my breathing labored or controlled. I think about my RPE. Is my power output high or is it hurting more than normal for a certain speed. I think about the wind and how it effects my workout. Then I think about my form. Is my form as aero and comfortable as possible? I make subtle position changes and watch my speed increase/decrease. I think about how lucky I am to be outdoors making improvements in my health and mind. I think about how fast I’m going to blow by that group of riders that’s 3/4 of a mile ahead of me. And the list goes on…
I am impressed by all the dedication and attention to details the majority of this group displays. I bike and run around a 10 mile lake loop full of scantily clad coeds and spend most of my time trying not to slow down and determine what kind of panties they must be wering.