Concentration

[backintime]

Hi

I spend most of my runs trying NOT to concentrate on what I'm doing (other than occasionally checking my form and my breathing), but I found 10k mentally tiring. Not from fighting the demons although tbey were there, but like I'd been concentrating for a long time. Physically all was well after 30 mins or so, but mentally was awful. I went out with a friend after to celebrate with her and couldn't find my words in French to speak to her (I have been speaking fluent French for over 15 years lol).

Does anyone else get mentally tired after long runs ? Any tips ?

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

🤔 it can be tiring, I think that's one of the reasons I like singing along to my music as it's a good way to break any focus on any one thing.

It will get easier in time though as your stamina and endurance improves 👍🏻😁

[Sandie1961 Graduate10]

If I’m running on my own I always have music or a podcast/NRC run which I find relaxes my mind and helps me zone out while I’m running. If I didn’t I think I would find it mentally challenging as well.

[Julia187 Graduate10]

Do you feel like that after the shorter long runs (like the 8K) or was it a 10K thing? Do you listen to anything? Wonder if it's because you're on the treadmill and there's nothing to distract you so naturally your mind just thinks about what you're doing maybe?

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Julia187]

I do have music and I do think about anything and everything, which is why it was weird to feel like I had been concentrating.

I normally deliberately cover the treadmill display so I am not dwelling on time or distance (although the 10k programme has been great for stopping me dwelling on time).

I have never experienced it before - maybe it wasn't the 10K, but this is the first time I ran 10k and the first time I had this - maybe they're not related lol

[Dottie_D Graduate10]

I get mentally tired during most runs, even the shorter ones when I’m feeling fatigued 🥵. I figure it’s because my mind can’t cope with all the effort of jogging at the same time as thinking 😜😃😃. I look forward to hearing other people’s advice on this one 😂😂

[Stephen_UK Graduate10]

I try to lose myself in the music as much as possible, and also to observe my immediate surroundings. I cannot dwell on thoughts about time or distance as it leads to gremlin thoughts.

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

I have music, lots of it, loud music on a nice bluetooth speaker in my basement I sing a lot (badly) but this one was just hard mentally. Dunno, we'll see what the next one brings. Hopefully my stamina will improve and it will be easier

[Stephen_UK Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

It will get easier. In the meantime, sing louder!

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to Stephen_UK]

as long as no one can hear me I sing fairly loudly...and badly

I won't be giving up my day job

[Hidden]

i listen to a long podcast (at least 50 minutes) on a long run. That keeps me interested. During a race where I can't use earphones, i count! It could be 1-2, 1-2-3-4 or else I count to 100 6 times for a kilometre. It's quite relaxing and I get into a trance/meditative/keep going state. Trail runs are good because i need to watch my feet and my surroundings. I don't think i could do a long run on a treadmill - too boring.

[2718281 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I tried that on a treadmill, I got into a meditative state, I woke up in time not to fall off...

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

I forgot that you're treadmill based, this is going to be harder to adjust to simply because you don't have outdoor distractions to help the time fly. Would you not consider getting outdoors yet?

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

yes, I am running one run a week outside, I will practice my outside running in the UK as I will have no other choice lol

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

It can be very mentally tiring, I find my body recovers much faster than my brain after a long run. As Sandie1961 I also use spoken word, and I’m a big fan of the NRC guided runs as they keep the mind pretty active and I can have music in between the coaching bits.

[JaoJao Graduate10]

Hey lovely, sorry to hear this. I had a blip at the end of June where I was feeling burnt out and exhausted and sounds similar to what you are saying here. I posted on here and people came to me aid with a wealth of support and advice. I gave myself the following week off to go easy on myself, listening to my body and recharge! It did me the world of good and when I came back to running the following week I was raring to go. I’ve done the same this month too. This week I’ve dropped a run from my midweek schedule and I feel better for it, a mini break.

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

I'm often mentally tired and always struggling for the right word. I just thought it was old age 😕🤔

[backintime Graduate10 in reply to BaddieThePirate]

hmmm, there's a depressing thought lol

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10 in reply to backintime]

Doodah and thingy with a wave of the hand are quite helpful ...

[JonathanP Graduate10]

I did 10k this morning and just needed to sit quietly for a while afterwards - I think my wife thought there was something wrong with me ! 😀

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

The right music always works for me and as I have a vivid imagination I just let my head wander and create stories that make me feel strong and invincible!

But like everything else our bodies and heads have to get used to longer runs and the more it’s done the easier it’ll feel.