Many runners will agree with this statement: running helps me think. One of the best ways to relax is to take a run on a peaceful trail where the only sound is your breathing and the sound of your feet hitting the dirt. The mental side of running is a fascinating topic, and an interesting […]
Why Do Runners Run?
Why do runners run? It’s a question that many of us have heard from our family and friends who don’t quite understand the lure of running. The common answer is to improve health, but are there other reasons why we find running so enjoyable? To answer this question, researchers in a recent study observed participants […]
Control a Panic Attack During a Race
Many talented runners never realize their potential in races even through they can run the most difficult workouts with ease. Although the runners’ bodies are in perfect shape, their minds hold them back. These runners suffer from “choking” or “panicking” during races. Learning how to control a panic attack during a race is an often-overlooked […]
Dealing with Running Disappointments
The U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials were held in Houston a few weeks ago. Only the top three runners in the trials race go to the Olympic games. Invariably, this scenario creates very disappointing races for the majority of the runners – especially the 4th place runner. This year, the 4th place runner was Dathan Ritzenhein, […]
Reducing Your Running Anxiety
The most important barrier to running fast in workouts and races is often a runner’s mind. It will be very hard to achieve your running goals if you have overwhelming anxiety that you can not complete a difficult workout or run a fast race.Sports psychologists have come up with a number of ways to help […]
Learning from High School Runners
I was a high school cross county and track coach for two years. In this position, I had a unique perspective on what makes different runners excel and fail. The most gratifying experience during my coaching years was to see a runner understand the value of hard work and dedicate himself/herself to becoming as good […]
