Encouragement Methods

[rocknrollgirl]

Running mantra.....
Light and fast, light and fast, light and fast......

[HeatherErin]

Running mantra.....
Light and fast, light and fast, light and fast......

Oooh - I like that.

I'm still so new to all the training that everything sucks (most of the time). When I feel like quitting I'll stop thinking and focus on my body - how the muscles are moving, the air entering my lungs, etc. It helps me realize the benefit of what I'm doing, regardless of how far or how fast I go.

[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.

[Starfish]

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)

Thank you for reminding me about this...I also love to watch my TDF DVDs...they really are motivating to me.

[teigyr]

Thank you for reminding me about this...I also love to watch my TDF DVDs...they really are motivating to me.

There have been times that I envision Lance's legs as he was climbing; there were times he made it look so easy but I know it wasn't. That will work for sometimes, especially if I'm running on a hill.

For cycling...when it's really bad the song "Rawhide" starts going through my head. Oddly enough, it is a decent cadence so each "rolling" is a pedal stroke. Mr. Roboto works also but I have to force that one, Rawhide just comes naturally

[crumpincommuter]

Mantras definately help- the key is finding the one that's right for you, and sounds like you may be on the way to that discovery.

One thing that helped not only cycling but also the very mental (in more ways than one) game of golf; a book called Mind Gym (by Gary Mack). There's excerpts from premier athletes of almost every sport. I keep a copy in my car and read a few well worn pages before an event (kind of pre-game mental warm up)..

All else fails--- try to old tried and true I THINK I CAN- I THINK I CAN---

[Veronica]

I say, "Danilo Di Luca" over and over in my head.




V.

[tangentgirl]

During my last race, some lovely drunken frat boys were teasing the bike riders, offering them delicious Sam Adams. Alas, I was only at mile four and had to politely decline, postponing it for later.

The thought of that nice cold Sammy kept me going for the whole race. Yes, even during the hot, hilly run, I kept thinking, the faster I go, the sooner I get my beer. Mmmm.

[HillSlugger]

Originally Posted by MDHillSlug View Post
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.

I forgot to say that before I get to that point my mantra usually is "push it, push it, push it!"

[Starfish]

I forgot to say that before I get to that point my mantra usually is "push it, push it, push it!"

Sorry, MDHillSlug, the above might be a little higher-minded, but the next time I am hauling myself up some hill, it is going to be your other mantra that cracks me up and keeps me going!

[Meg McKilty]

I thought of something else important that I think of whenever I am struggling to make it through the workout: hot movie people.

I think of Blue Crush and Kate Bosworth's body.
I think of Charlie's Angels and how Drew Barrymore and I have curves alike.

[eclectic]

whenever I am sucking air going up a hill and my legs feel ready to give out I just tell myself - "you are not in abject, crushing pain in the throes of death, all you are really feeling is a little discomfort - in the entire scope of your life this is only a measley 5 minutes (10, 20, 1/2 hour - whatever) Suck it up and get tough.

Once I put my discomfort into perspective it lessens considerably. (and then I say "why the H$!! do I do this

[VeloVT]

hmmm... running & biking are totally different in this respect for me. Biking, I just go into a kind of zen flow where I focus on pushing my cadence and keeping my breathing deep but under control, and upshifting as soon as I can. No room for commentary. Running (which is actually easier/more natural for me & I started doing first), paradoxically, I have all sorts of tricks for. Going up a really steep hill (8+% grade), I'll tell myself, "think how hard this would be if you were on a bike -- think how hard you would be breathing/how your quads would burn" because actually those really steep climbs ARE tougher on a bike. On more moderate hills, (ok I'm about to embarrass myself) sometimes I think the lyrics to, well, I'm not sure if this is one song or two songs actually, (Frank Sinatra lyrics, "let's take it nice and easy" and "all the way", and I imagine that crooning voice) cause my problem running is more that I lack the discipline to hold back than it is that I have trouble motivating myself. I also establish benchmarks -- "once I get to x landmark, I'll only have 2.5 miles left -- that's almost home" or "ok, now LESS than 2 miles to go" -- this is very effective for me. I use it to cheerlead my bf (who runs only for practical reasons, not because he likes it) when we run together and it seems to help him too. I also sometimes focus on trying to pick up my turnover rate (basically, cadence for running), this keeps me going too... Sometimes on long, cold, early morning runs (marathon training in the winter), I think about the delicious cup of strong, hot, sweet imported British tea with milk and sweetener I'm going to have when I get back ... Sometimes when I'm easing back into running after a layoff, or upping my mileage significantly, times when runs can be more tiring, I'll tell myself, especially in the first few miles, "this isn't about speed, it's about endurance, it doesn't matter how fast you go, just that you put the miles in" and in those cases, sometimes I"ll just leave the watch at home, since I know it will create pressure when the most important thing is just to put one foot in front of the other.

The watch can be a big motivator too, though...

[wildstreaktn]

TriGirl,
I am doing my first tri next week,I don't think I am going to drown anymore,I love the cycling,it is my true passion,and I suck at running.My mantra for running is "Pain is temporary,quitting is forever" and for some reason the tag line from the Power Station's version of "Bang a Gong" gets me thru the flats and imagining my legs as the pistons in a car engine helps on the hills.I hope this helps you

[Meg McKilty]

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)

I downloaded this song. It's Fatboy Slim's "Acid 8000".