Could the how are you feeling feature on the app hinder our run? Random musing.

[Aquila12]

I’ve been thinking about the psychological side of running lately and researching it. Full disclosure: I AM a third-year psychology student at uni but this is no way at all makes me an expert, quite the opposite, I’m still learning. Anyway, I’ve been wondering if a feature on the app could be hindering rather than helping (the how do you feel faces at the start). Hear me out. According to research and a couple of sports psychology lectures:

•Thinking positive can convince your brain you can run when it feels hard.

•Negative thinking affects confidence and causes increase in stress.

•Using imagery and imagining a positive outcome can motivate and help you reach that outcome. So, is the opposite true?

Therefore, I’m wondering, at the start of the app when it asks how we are feeling, if we press the negative faces could that be affecting our confidence and thinking and therefore runs?

Either way, I’ve been convincing my brain that every time I feel nervous about run that its actually excitement (they produce same symptoms) and that I’m confident (even though im usually really not) by pressing the big smiley face.

If I’ve made you curious why not try it too if you’re feeling anxious about a run. E.g. the evil week 5 one we all dread.

Any other thoughts? Am I talking crap lol?

[Minty4 Graduate]

I was thinking along similar lines on Sunday during a group run. People were struggling and complaining and I found myself saying 'think of the positives; we're over halfway through the run; we're over half way through the 9 weeks; look how far we've come; AND we're talking and running at the same time!' It helped me to carry on. 😃

They probably wanted to trip me up but I felt great! 😂😂😂

[Aquila12 Graduate in reply to Minty4]

Haha I'm sure they didnt want that. I know what you mean though, optimistic people use to annoy me and now i'm a convert. A believer of the power of positive thinking. Still think it sounds corny and cliche though 😂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Having not used the app, I cannot give you my experience, but it sounds highly likely to me that the buttons can reinforce feelings that the user brings to the session. I wrote a post recently about positivity and negativity in relation to the programme and believe we can alter our chances of success by the way we approach each run. I am glad to say that I used the old school podcasts, which were entirely positive, in my opinion.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I didn't know that was part of the new app. I'm from the Laura app and she is just so positive all the way through I'm sure her tone of voice helped me through many a run when I was struggling. I am a great believer in a positive attitude. I know it was done to death in the 80's and became a bit of a joke to those of us who are a bit older but it always came from a good place.

[misswobble Graduate]

Yes they were. Laura was very up! 😃