March 29, 2024

In need of a little friendly competition? By Nicole Bryan

Up for a little friendly competition?

Choosing to participate in a race will inspire your workouts and motivate you to work harder. Bringing some friendly competition into your exercise routine will peak interest, and you’ll be less likely to miss a workout when your ego is on the line. Let nerves and jitters of a little friendly competition inspire a source of empowerment to better fitness.

Here are just a few reasons why racing should be on your list of exercise goals:

Competition builds confidence that spills over into all aspects of life. Improved confidence and self esteem means you’re more likely to set goals in other areas of life. Learning how to tap into an inner strength, determination or perseverance to cover that last mile or last lap will give a boost of energy to accomplish other non-fitness dreams.

Competition keeps you coming back for more. There will always be an aspect of our participation we could have done differently; maybe prepared a little better, executed with greater precision, thought out a more effectively.

Competition promotes additional healthy behaviors. Racing is just one aspect of fitness. When working toward a competition other areas creep into consciousness for example insuring better sleep, better food choices, and better time management.

Competition eases stress and leads to mental or emotional clarity. Sometimes the physical fatigue of racing allows us to be still enough for our psyche to process emotional happenings of life. This is a good thing and results in feelings of rejuvenation.

Competition encourages new friends. Competing alongside a fellow athlete creates an instant bond and understanding of effort, dedication and sacrifice. The kindness and generosity in the spirit of good sportsmanship often seen in competitions results from an automatic camaraderie rarely experienced in other settings.

Consider adding in some friendly competition to your workout regime. Once a year or many times each year, preparing for a race will fire up motivation and quality of exercise. Attending a few events or competitions of interest to observe as a spectator is a great step toward determining if it’s for you. Enjoy the motivation and commit to participate the next time around, and pass on the inspiration.

The Psychology of Endurance Events by Jim Day

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The Psychology of Endurance Events by Jim Day

Assuming that all the necessary training has been done, we are injury free and primed for our endurance event, what can possibly go wrong? More importantly, what can’t go wrong!

In any endurance event there will be highs, lows as well as coasting periods. The key is how we deal with each segment as, or if it arises.

The coasting periods are hopefully the bulk of the endurance event experience, however it is during these long sustained sections that we must keep our goal in mind and control our enthusiasm. The highs usually occur early on, so again we must temper our urge to over-do in the situation.  It is critical to stick to the plan.

You do have a plan don’t you? No plan! Then how can you adjust what you don’t have?

You must have what-if scenarios so that you are able to deal with the expected and sometimes the unexpected. This saves time and can rekindle your confidence. Blisters, dehydration, blood sugar fluctuations, cold, wet, wind, etc. are all manageable.

But, inevitably, a low will come out of nowhere and test your physical and/or mental resolve. A strong mind will keep a weak body going, but a weak mind and the strongest foundation will tumble. The mental resolve to some degree comes with training and experience but is also an innate quality that matures literally with the years. Polar explorers were often in their late 30’s and early 40’s for this reason.

So what do we do while we are going through this learning-curve of mental toughness and stability? The following will help establish the foundation of your mental resilience that will surely be tested during endurance events:

Do not panic. Everyone goes through a similar experience at some point during a long race or event.

Be patient! Some lows wills pass of their own volition.

Determine if your challenge external or internal. Some problems are external for example a rock in your shoe or a leak in your water bottle. Stop, and fix the problem as soon as possible. Other low points are internal, and therefore mean the solution is to “fix-yourself!” Focus on a mantra, talk to yourself with encouraging and empowering words. Tell yourself that the discomfort is worth the success.

Align with fellow racers. Tag on to others if possible and let them drag you along. If in a team then tell the others so that you can all problem-solve and cope together, as no man is an island!

Keep moving. As long as you are not endangering yourself or others, sometimes the answer is to simply plod on!

Do the best you can when you can and judge yourself only by your own standards not others. But look to improve your standards, slowly pushing to the limits which only you can reach. 

A Personal Experience During the ‘Exmoor 100’, a hundred mile event, to be completed within 48 hours, I experienced the following challenges. After only 10 miles I had a bad hip pain-solution? I took some painkillers. As the miles progressed the hip pain went away but then I started feeling nauseas and by the time I reached the 50 mile checkpoint I was struggling to keep food down. Over the next 50 miles the nausea relaxed a little and my discomfort switched to my feet, both big toe nails were excruciating (later they fell off). Stamina-wise however, I had no problems. I felt strong, alert and in no distress. The night section had gone well and there were no navigation problems. I walked the event in 35 hours 21 minutes. I finished and in a good time. Why? Because I wanted to, I had prepared well (as my stamina showed) I had solved the hip problem and the other discomforts to me were tolerable. One event presented many emotions, situations and challenges! However, I tended to each challenge as it presented itself and pushed through. Another day however and I may not have finished- life holds no promises!

By Jim Day of Dudley, England. Jim provides endurance based training advice and services for those preparing for treks, marathons, and other various endurance events. For more information, go to http://www.trek-fit.co.uk