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.

New Boston Rules: Wicked Retahded

The new rules aren't really wicked retahded, I just wanted to use that as a title. Initially I thought the changes that were made to the entry process of the Boston Marathon were fair. After reading about it from a variety of perspectives, I think it's just ok.

Basically the changes make it easier for the faster people (per group) to register. For 2012 the qualifying times remain the same, but people who are faster by 20 minutes, 10 minutes, or five minutes can register before the open registration. This I think is mostly fair because it favors the cream of the crop of runners, and that's what running Boston is all about. Then after reading this blog post, I kind of had second thoughts.

The qualifying standards for Boston heavily favor women. I mean there is a 30 minute different between different genders of the same age. To put it into context, the world record is about 12 minutes apart and the gap between men's and women's times are narrowing. The 30 minute rule was put into effect sometime in the 1970s. Women have become much faster since then as well as opinions about their capabilities. For instance, at some point they thought the women's uterus would fall out if a woman ran a marathon. I don't want to detract from anyone's accomplishments, but I really think that time should be lowered by at least 5 minutes for females in relationship to that of their male counterparts.


For 2013, the times will be lowered by 5:59 across the board. So men ages 18-34 will now have to run 3:05:00 or below instead of 3:10:59 as in previous years. Because for 2011 Boston sold out so quickly, something needed to be done and I appreciate that they are trying to make it more competitive. Maybe my feelings have something to do with me already being eligible to register for 2012. That being said, I might not be able to register if those people who are 20 or 10 minutes faster than I am already register before I get the chance. So my fear is that women who are 18-34 who have an easier qualifying standard register in a larger number.

I guess time will tell if their policy will work for the better. The Boston Athletic Association's goal is to make money, but they also have a legacy to keep intact. And if they piss everyone off, then it's not going to make as much money. I've also noticed that their merchandising is not longer just for those who run the race. The apparel (below) now reads "Boston Marathon Qualifier." That's nice for those who ran a qualifying time, but didn't get in. It's also nice way to get that green.