Lies We Tell Ourselves

We often tell ourselves that we can't go faster (even though we probably can). But there's a better lie we can tell ourselves that would make us just a little bit better. In a recent article from the New York Times, Gina Kolata describes how a little deception could help endurance athletes break free from their self-imposed restrictions and become better runners.

During a laboratory experiment, a field of cyclists were pushed to their limits on a stationary bicycle only to discover that an avatar could push them a little faster than they normally would by themselves. The trick was that the cyclists were told that the avatar was riding at their own maximum speed, however, it was actually traveling slightly faster than the cyclists' previous fastest time. Was the avatar forcing them to compete at a higher level? 

In an another experiment, cyclists were broken up into two separate groups. In one group they were told that the avatars would be traveling faster than the cyclists ever had. That group of individuals gave up from the beginning. In the second group was told that the avatar was going the same speed, even though they were going a little more than slightly faster than the previous experiment. This group fared much better than the other group by hanging onto the same speed as the avatar.

It appears that the brain allows "athletes to tap more deeply into energy stores than would ordinarily be permitted." Exercise physiologists had always believed that the heart, lungs, muscle, etc. were the most important factors in regulating speed, but maybe they were focusing on the wrong part of the body. Maybe it's the brain that should be further investigated. Perhaps the brain should be trained as vigorously as the muscles, heart and lungs.

In the experiment, the small deceptions of the mind seemed to have a positive effect on speed. Sometimes a little white can't hurt, and sometimes it just may help. 



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/20/health/nutrition/20best.html?pagewanted=2&ref=health

Training: 11/18/11 - 11/24/11

This week kind of sucked since I had to wait for my metatarsals to heal. I decided that the culprit was the condition of my running shoes, so I bought some new Saucony Hurricanes (pictured left). I also think the culprit was partnered with over-training. For two weeks, I basically didn't have any days off even though my feet were hurting and needed ice daily.That was a dumb move. I'm not 19 anymore. So maybe this will teach me a valuable lesson, but rather, I never learn anything. I love running and I'd do it everyday if my body would let me.  

Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Rest (again)
Wednesday: Speed - 400@ 1:25, 800@ 2:50, 1200@ 4:20, 1600@ 5:46, 1200@ 4:21, 800@ 2:46,  
    400@  1:14 (Track)
Thursday: 7 mi @ 7:58 min/mi
Friday: Speed - 1mi @ 5:49, 800@ 2:50, 800@ 2:50   (Treadmill)
Saturday: Long Run - 10mi @ 7:19 min/mi
Sunday: 4mi @ 8:07 min/mi

I Got a Golden Ticket

I got a golden ticket! I got a golden chance to find my way! 

That song was from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I really didn't find a golden ticket nestled in my Nestle's, but I was accepted into the 116th Boston Marathon. It's official folks. After last year's debacle of a registration that sold out in eight hours, I decided that I really wanted to run this year and have it be my last marathon for a while. The waking up early, the long runs, the injuries, etc, I can do without. So that's why I had to make sure I registered myself this year.

Many months before the process even started, I marked the date I could register on my iPhone calendar and made sure I was notified at least two days before. Also in the preceding days, I checked the Running World Forums to see how the new rules were affecting everyone.

My qualifying marathon was the 2010 Detroit Free Press Marathon with a time of 3:01:45, so I would be able to register with the third group on Friday 16 September. (Those with BQ -20 were allowed to register on Monday, and those with BQ -10 were able to register on Wednesday.) And then Monday (19th) of this week, I received a notification that my $150 dollars were collected by the Boston Athletic Association. So I'm going to Boston!

I already have my hotel reserved using all my Marriott points. I'll be staying here. Now all I need is a flight and I'm all set. I've already invited my parents, so I'm going to make an event out of it.

Logistically, I'm almost set. But I still haven't decided on my goal time. I would say sub three hours, but it's just been too many times, too many heartbreaks. Plus it's seven months away. I have time to decide.

Training: 11/09/11 - 17/09/11

This week in training was pretty difficult, considering that I didn't take any days off last week. As a result, I think I messed up my metatarsal on both feet. I'm taking a few days off this week as a consequence. The training itself was pretty solid. I had a really good day (Wednesday) on the track despite it starting at 5:45AM. The long run felt great too. Downtown DC is pretty difficult to get around in, with all the stops and starts. Looking forward to starting this week. Next week I have the half marathon coming up. 

Monday: Tempo- 1 mile @ 9:29, 4 miles @ 6:43 min/mi
Tuesday: Semi Long Run- 8 miles @ 7:46 min/mi
Wednesday: Speed- 4 quarters (1:27, 1:26, 1:26, 1:25), 1 mile @ 5:49, 4 quarters (1:24, 1:25, 1:24, 1:23),    1 mile @ 5:49
Thursday: Recovery- 4 miles @ 8:26min/mi
Friday: Speed- 1 mile @ 5:42 pace on treadmill, 1/2 mile @ 5:39 pace, plus warm up & cool down
Saturday: Long Run- 15 miles @ 7:43 pace w/ 1 mile @ 6:42 pace
Sunday: Rest

Total: 40 miles

Playlist: 9/12

It's really been a mixed bag for me in terms of songs. I haven't really gotten into a lot of new songs lately, so I normally just hit shuffle on my iPod and see what I like. Nevertheless, here are some songs from yesterday that helped me get through a tempo day that I normally wouldn't have been able to finish. It's embarassing. Don't judge me!


Keep This Party Going, The B-52's
Mercy, Duffy
Dog Days are Over, Florence + The Machine
If, Janet Jackson
Check it Out, will.i.am and Nicki Minaj
Umbrella, Rihanna feat, Jay-Z

We Meet Again

After a prolonged vacation from posting on this blog that no one but me is allowed to see, I've decided to return to writing. I just moved into Washington, DC, and I don't have a TV so I am going to need something to fill my days. I watched BOTH commentaries for "Inconvenient Truth," y'all! So instead of watching some trash reality TV, I'm going to write this for the universe until I can't stand it anymore then I'll go public.

My first order to duty is to state that I plan on registering for the Boston Marathon on 16 September if the new Wicked Retahded entry process allows for it. I've already purchased my hotel room using Marriott points. I ran Boston in the spring of 2009 and it was a great experience. I had run a few... let's say quaint marathons in the intermittent time, which weren't as fun. So I want to get back to a grand spectacle type racing. Plus the Boston is the most important event in recreational running in America.

In the meantime, I plan to do a few shorter races in preparation, including one that I ran two years ago, Freedom's Run. Shepardstown, WV, really is one of the quaintest (in a good way) cities in the Washington, DC, area (note: this includes cities two hours away). There is even a John Brown Wax Museum for only $7 in the town of Harper's Ferry. John Brown (seen above in daguerreotype) is one of the most controversial characters in American History -- he tried to free the slaves at Harper's Ferry through armed insurrection.

He didn't inspire me to run that particular race. I'm also planning to run the Detroit Turkey Trot when I go home for Thanksgiving. So I'm running the races that I want to run this year. Now I know what I like, and I still have some on the back burner. The Army Ten Miler is definitely NOT THE ONE that I will ever race, so I'm fine with shunning that.