Encouragement Methods

[Meg McKilty]

So, today, I was running my area and I have this giant, slow graded hill to climb. I started imagining of my neighbors coming out of their houses and screaming, "Go Go Go!! Beat this hill!" and the likes for encouragement. I have never had this fantasy before, but I have talked to myself before, such as, "You can make it up this hill; you've done it a million times before", etc.

What do yous guys do to encourage yourselves on tough parts of the workout? I need new things to keep me going.

[Tri Girl]

I like what you imagined today!!! Hey- whatever gets you through those tough spots is doing it's job!!!

I have mantras that I say when I need to focus and give myself encouragement. I say them over and over again until the words don't make sense (maybe I'm a little insane, but that's not news). They are situation specific. They're stupid, but they work for me.
When I do marathons (or long runs) and it gets tough I say "I own you 26.2- run fast run strong"
When riding up big (or long) hills I say "pedal, pedal, pedal, UP!"
When riding long (and sometimes boring miles) I say "time spent spinning is time spent winning"
When I'm racing I say "You're stong, you're fit, you'll win this race for you"
(disclaimer: I've never won anything except in my own mind, but telling myself I'll win boosts my esteem)

Dumb, but saying the same things over and over in different situations (I don't say one thing at another time- I'm weird like that) gives me focus and gets me through the tough spots.

(ok- after reading what I just wrote- it makes me sound a little weird...) Good thing you ladies don't know my real identity.

[Starfish]

Tri Girl, I will now make you feel totally normal.

Sometimes when I am on a long climb, I start getting a weird rhythm in my head with the words: I know I can do it...I know I can do it...

The weird part is the rhythm, kind of like the old conga lines in those 1950's musical movies with tropicana themes...like:

da-da, da-da, da...DA!

[Zen]

I don't think what happens in my head is going to help anyone.

I have two people in my head, me and Party Girl.
Party Girl says things like "c'mon, it's hot. lets go get a bag of chips and watch Dr.Phil"

I call her names and tell her to shut up.

[michelem]

These ideas are so cool! I used to play that little game of, "I'll just jog to that next post" or whatever, but that never worked because as soon as I'd get to the pre-ordained spot, I'd poop out. So, now I just tell myself things like finishing this run will improve my follow-through/commitment/persistance/etc. Knowing how good I'll feel that I didn't quit really motivates me to keep going.

[rocknrollgirl]

I spent all winter visualizing last Sunday's race, and I actaully called on that visualization during the race. Coming in on the finish line, I picked it up and said to myself...come on, you have done this finish a million times in training.

I often talk to my bike too, I know, I am a big weirdo, but Bob and Gidget my bikes, they listen.... Come On Gigdet...just help me get up this hill....

Sometimes I hear my DH, who helps me train...Attack, Attack, Attack...or reel 'em in, get up in your big chain ring and reel 'em in....

Sometimes I count down the hard sets and bargin with myself....

hmmmm, I think I need help.....

[Meg McKilty]

These ideas are so cool! I used to play that little game of, "I'll just jog to that next post" or whatever, but that never worked because as soon as I'd get to the pre-ordained spot, I'd poop out. So, now I just tell myself things like finishing this run will improve my follow-through/commitment/persistance/etc. Knowing how good I'll feel that I didn't quit really motivates me to keep going.

I do this all the time, as far as saying, "I can make it to the lamp post/mailbox/next driveway/fence/whatever" and play on my competitiveness (?) for go-drive. I'm like, "Oh my lungs don't hurt that badly, I can make it to the next [fill in the blank]... oh, you can make it farther than that/this!"

[HillSlugger]

I don't think what happens in my head is going to help anyone.

I have two people in my head, me and Party Girl.
Party Girl says things like "c'mon, it's hot. lets go get a bag of chips and watch Dr.Phil"

I call her names and tell her to shut up.

I think you win the award for weird

It doesn't seem to matter if I'm swimming, biking, or running, I'll hear Dory from "Finding Nemo": "Keep swimming, swimming, swimming...Keep swimming, swimming, swimming...". However, on long, bad hills, when I think I can't give it any more, in time with my pedaling: "f*ck, f*ck, f*ck..."

[Zen]

Oh, and

I think you win the award for weird
....."

Thank you, I graciously accept your award.
I'll put with all the others

[Starfish]

However, on long, bad hills, when I think I can't give it any more, in time with my pedaling: "f*ck, f*ck, f*ck..."

Oh! Thank you for the real laugh...I literally laughed out loud when I read this.

[Wahine]

I think you win the award for weird

It doesn't seem to matter if I'm swimming, biking, or running, I'll hear Dory from "Finding Nemo": "Keep swimming, swimming, swimming...Keep swimming, swimming, swimming...". However, on long, bad hills, when I think I can't give it any more, in time with my pedaling: "f*ck, f*ck, f*ck..."

I do Dora too when I'm riding, "Just keep swimming" has a nice rhythm and helps my cadence especially in head winds. I'll be adding your other mantra as well.

Running, I always think of a Heather Fuhr passing Paula Newby-Fraser at IM Kona 1997. No one thought she could win and she rocked that race. In the IM broadcast they played the song "Bittersweet Shymphony" by The Verve while you watched Heather overtake Paula. So, often I get that song in my head and go over it again and again while I run. I wish I could find a link to the actual IM footage, but I can't. Here's the video for the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLZ2aQz8KVE

I'm going running tomorrow!!

[Tri Girl]

Tri Girl, I will now make you feel totally normal.

Sometimes when I am on a long climb, I start getting a weird rhythm in my head with the words: I know I can do it...I know I can do it...

The weird part is the rhythm, kind of like the old conga lines in those 1950's musical movies with tropicana themes...like:

da-da, da-da, da...DA!

HILARIOUS!!!! Now I'll have the conga line song in my head. Hey- I just found my newest mantra to add to the gang... Never thought of putting them to music before!

[7rider]

What do yous guys do to encourage yourselves on tough parts of the workout? I need new things to keep me going.

Okay, so I don't do tri's. I can't run to save my life.
But when climbing a hill on my bike, I think of this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHJEr...elated&search=
And chant "If that don't make your booty move, your booty must be dead!"
(you gotta watch)

[northstar]

I do some writing and have taken a few writing classes where we are supposed to name our censor (the voice in our head that tells us we suck) and then we fantasize about ways to take the censor out. Like turning them into frogs or dropping pianos on them...ok, I'm weird, but it helps. Perhaps I need to name the voice in my head that shames me for being in worse shape than I'd like to be...and then have fun torturing that being... mine shows up mostly on runs (because I'm a beginner) or on hills...

[Zen]

...when climbing a hill on my bike, I think of this video:

Party Girl says she can groove to some Fat Boy Slim