Running showed me how limiting the mind can be
This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot over my previous ultra training sessions and events.
I’ve had 20km training runs that have felt harder than doing an Ironman. Not because I wasn’t fit enough for the 20km run.
I just finished my first ultra-marathon. My longest run during the prep was 50km. I was surprised by how easy it actually felt.
After peak week and the 50km run, the taper started. Shorter runs. One run was 7km. I’m not exaggerating when I say that the 7km run was harder than the 50km run.
This is because the mentality going into an Ironman race or a 50km run is pretty much “I’m going to be here for a while, I better get comfortable”. When you get into that mindset, you don’t check the distance every 3 minutes (that makes runs really hard) or think about how tired your legs are. You’ve accepted the situation.
The same thing translates into other aspects of life as well. Take earning money. You don’t have the pain and endurance factors as in ultra sports, but everything around you tells you how much you should be making. Your parents, your friends, the area where you live, the school you go to, the company you work at, the country you live in, etc.
All these things combined give you a number, and your mind is telling you that number is enough. The work you do is just enough to reach that number, maybe a little bit more (because making a little bit more than the people around you feels good) — but not a lot more, because the mind is limiting you. It’s better to stay where it’s safe (based on your surroundings, and ultimately your mind).
