Discovering “The Zone” and a lesson learnt!

[Fleur1307]

Hello everyone

I am about to go into wk 8 and since doing the uninterrupted runs for the last couple of weeks, I have found that I “zone out” during my run. I struggle for the first couple of minutes, but then my pace evens and I seem to reach an almost out-of-body running experience. It is literally just me and my sound track, I barely register anything else, my body seems to be on autopilot, and I don’t really come to until I hear Sara telling me I’ve finished. I’m really curious to know if this is a known “thing” with runners and if I am just late to the party!🙄 I completed wk 7 yesterday morning and felt like I could have carried on as I felt so good! However, I have been pulled up sharp today and have crashed back down to earth with a bang in the shape of cystitis - I didn’t drink enough yesterday and am suffering the consequences! 😖 Lesson learnt, but I am really curious to hear more from other “zoners”!

[Couchphoenix Graduate]

I experience that, it took a long time but like you I go into ‘the zone’ and whereas when you start this you’re like....I’m going to have to stop soon.. that thought doesn’t enter my head and my body just automatically drives me on. Personally I think your breathing is the major thing and when you get that right, start taking in enough oxygen and get into a good rhythm, your body becomes like a machine as your getting the fuel you need. Well done, it’s great you feel like that now, it took me many consolidation runs following graduation to get to that stage......you must be a natural 👍🏃‍♀️

[Fleur1307 Graduate in reply to Couchphoenix]

Thanks so much, I definitely agree that it is to do with the breathing, don’t feel like a natural this morning though! 😂

[Elfe5 Graduate]

It’s great when this happens. 👍🏻😄

- I wish it would happen more often! 😂

[Roxdog Graduate]

Definitely rings bells with me! I do experience pure 'clarity at times during my runs. Sometimes it feels like I could run all day (of course I can't). If you enjoy this feeling, just think what it will be like when you graduate and run for longer! Running is a very mindful activity I find, and being in the zone is one of the main reasons I run, not just for the exercise. It is a very pure activity!

Happy zoned-out running!

[Fleur1307 Graduate in reply to Roxdog]

Thanks, would be delighted if it got me to ten miles like you! What an achievement! I’ve a way to go yet. 😂

[Roxdog Graduate in reply to Fleur1307]

You will do longer runs after graduation I'm sure! It just takes time to build up!

[Roxdog Graduate]

Oh and sorry about the cystitis, horrible! Yep, keep up the water intake!