Hi folks,
Kasey got an email from a friend who finds that dealing with pain and fatigue (mentally) can be somewhat difficult as a newer athlete.
Let me start by saying... everything in the endurance world is difficult. In the beginning, training and building up endurance in one's particular event or plural events is fun and exciting. Therefore requiring less motivation because we see huge gains on a regular basis. This is usually enough to keep us pumped. As we get faster or extend our "time in the saddle" most of us find that we get bored or wonder why we are doing this at all. We will all have different reasons for doing stupid things, i.e. running 120 miles through the dessert. But at the end of the day the only thing that matters is why YOU do it. Could be vanity...in my case weighing 130 lbs. and looking like skeletor has recently become a top priority. Or, you could find solitude, peace of mind, mental clarity and self challenge.
I decided to answer this question from my perspective because I am a dude. Kasey will most likely chime in and have a completely different perspective which will most likely be easier to understand if you have the other chromosome.
Pushing your body requires motivation we know, but different events may lead to having different motivators. For example, during a two and half hour mountain bike race I know that the end will come fairly quickly and the reward is getting to the finish before anyone else, period, simple. Most of us, though, will get there after the guy who had a little more motivation or experience or was just plain lucky that day. I am motivated in these short races to inflict suffering onto others even if someone else is doing that same thing to me. At the same time, I am testing my mind, my training and deciding what else I can do to be faster. Every race is a different experience. Sometimes you feel great and other times become a feat of just enduring a slow slog to get to the finish. Those races and events are generally the most rewarding. It is then you learn to prioritize your life and learn about yourself.
The longer the event is the more one needs to be willing to escape. To get the full benefits of a huge effort we must learn to enjoy the entire compliment of the punishment and benefits of such. In any event a time will come when you cannot possibly go another step or pedal. When the thought of continuing brings up bile and disgust. The time to go to your place of escape becomes essential.
You're thinking I have said two different things here? I did and they are both right. The need for the individual to love the pain of a 100 mile run on an ankle that has been killing you since mile four becomes so aggravating that you decide to bag the last 20 miles. The thought of running that much further sends signals to your brain that tell you to stop right here and right now. This is the crucial time. Do you pack it in? Or tell yourself that your ankle should hurt because you're putting 20 years of running/activity into 20 hours and it is most likely a normal problem for such an activity. This is the time when I generally sing songs, mostly only one line that I can remember over and over again like a crazy man. This is when some people (me) can become emotional and can make good or bad decisions because the chemicals released in such times of distress can change your outlook on your mission at hand. The goal here is to stick to the plan and unless something is really, really off, usually this is not the time to reconsider. You're most likely going to be OK. I know it doesn't feel like it but you will need to trust me. I have felt this way a couple of times before. A little secret...If you're feeling bad so are the other guys. Your suffering and misery is not worse than anyone else's! Most people will try to cover up the "weakness" by acting like nothing is wrong. I highly recommend this tactic because it works. Even if you are only fooling yourself, even better huh?
The goal is to embrace the pain then gently let it go. There will always be something to stop you. Find reasons to keep going. Reasons can be as simple as pride, stubbornness, or stupidity. In the end the reward is the same. YOU DID IT! through all the trying to talk yourself out of it. You still made the distance you set forth to accomplish. YAY YOU! Sometimes the payoff is immediate and sometimes you will notice at work four weeks later when confronted with a so called "problem" that it is now easier to manage after putting yourself through the ringer in the real world.
The rewards for adventure are endless. I have hallucinated, cried, puked, pooed, diahreahed, fallen asleep while walking, starved, drank foamy, muddy water, fallen off a cliff into a waterfall, drank a strange local drink that made me numb, seen some of the most beautiful landscape, villagers, kids that have never seen white people, chiefs of tribes sat on my back to give me massage and enjoyed company from people all over the world in just one adventure. I highly recommend any adventure that takes you from the comfort of your home to help you see things you couldn't on your own. This could be as simple as a walk in the dark.
Thanks for reading!
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