Excerpt from book Running for Women by Claire Kowalchik :
Visualization draws on your imagination to create positive images of you as a runner. "What you see in your mind's eye can strongly influence your beliefs and achievements," says (Jerry) Lynch, PhD "Our central nervous system does not distinguish between real and imagined events: it sees and accepts all images as if they were real."
There's more but that's essentially it and now -How to do it:
1. Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed.
2. Close your eyes, take five deep abdominal breaths.
3. Relax and clear your mind of distractions
4. Imagine yourself running - down your street or on the path in your local park Be specific: See yourself moving with good posture, arms close to your sides, swinging forward and back in relaxed good form. Your feet lightly touch the ground as your legs lengthen into a smooth stride. Your breathing is relaxed and comfortable. You are strong and swift and you feel as though you could run forever.
That is the runner you see in your mind; that is the runner you will become.
Does it work? I dunno I fall down at the first hurdle which is number 1 above, find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed.
Specially for you mfamilias
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boptillyoudrop49
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He is gorgeous! I can't get beyond no 3 because my head is just a jumble of everything most of the time. When I try this at the few yoga sessions I've done I just end up giggling. Not good.
I met an Australian trainee Buddhist monk when I was about 17 and he used to invite me along to his meditation classes but I was really crap at trying to visualise anything . Actually we did a really nice meditation I remember for loving kindness: imagine everyone you know and care about and say, may you be well, may you be happy in your mind. Then it got harder, moving on to people you felt neutral about, then people you really couldn't stand (my words) and so on around the world. Not much help with running though I don't think. I am afraid I just got gremlin attacks and felt all twitchy and uncomfortable but really admire people who can sit still for ages despite all the cramping and meditate.
You're a doll, sweetie THANK YOU! I'll check the book out.
I just burst out laughing at your penultimate line - I have the same problem. I shall give it a try though - never say never. I often dream that I'm running like that. Yesterday the seams on my running top were rubbing my arms - THAT never happens when I visualise, or when I dream. Maybe I should be running in my flannel PJs? Erratum for the book: "You are strong and swift, WEARING FLANNEL PJ's, and feel as though you could run forever". Yup.
Actually I will have a bash at visualizing myself nailing my 10k race on Sat. Will report back on the effectiveness but I am not so sure I am very good at picturing something in my mind's eye. I shall make it very authentic, feel the sweat trickling down my forehead, hear the stamping of my feet on the ground and the raspy bad breath of people running alongside me, etc.
You'll have it done and dusted before you have time to worry about it - go for it! I'll be waving my pompoms for you as I gazelle my way through the vineyards. I reckon that envisioning a kind of female Rocky with a sweatband and buttocks so taught you could crack nuts with them (uh, maybe that wasn't the right image there, oops) is a very cool alternative. As for hearing stuff around you, just put your headphones on and whop up the volume.
It will definitely distract me from my running woes, that's for sure! I think I am visualizing myself as a kind of Kenyan super runner actually. Definitely not the plodding reality. No place for that in my mind's eye. Muscly though, yeah I like that.
Really? That's such a coincidence. My daughter's violin teacher suggested Alexander technique just the other day. I will look it up. Cheers for that. I know visualization is recommended for exams and interviews but I think you need to keep at it for a certain amount of time to effectively convince your mind of the images you are feeding it. I'm trying that Alexander technique thing from your post out now and it does work actually.
Yep... quite a few years ago... ( not my fault)...and after intensive physio... which did not really sort the issues.. I was treated by a chap who used the Alexander technique... it really helped me.
My right arm, which had been quite literally a pain... and my neck and back...improved terrifically...I still use the techniques he taught me if I have aches and pains!
the only thing i am good at visualising is a bottle of red and no kids nipping at my feet! good luck on the 10k ! maybe visualize yourself on a hoverboard and you might float to the finish?
Thanks. Not long to go now so I'll see if the old visualization helps. I could see how it would make a difference. Vino senza bambini. Did it work out?
I was introduced to visualization as training technique when I used to practice archery but I've always been a bit sceptical about its effectiveness; if it really worked, my boss would have been long dead... XD
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THANK YOU! I'll check the book out. 
I don't often remember dreaming but when I do they are just those weird composite dreams
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