Comments on: Do You Use Visualizations When You Run?

By: kch

kch — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 14:36:04 +0000

Thanks for telling us about these, Terri. I’m going to try out the balloon visualization!

By: Terri

Terri — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:00:53 +0000

The last few times I’ve been out there when it’s been really cold, I visualize a really warm hot shower (in my newly renovated bathroom!) and it does help me to keep going and get home sooner.

Over this past summer, when marathon training, whenever I got to a hill, I visualized having balloons attached to both of my wrists and kept repeating “floating, floating” in my head, it definitely helped.

A coworker of mine visualized she was a football player, running to make some long touchdown, recently, and she said it really helped her to keep going!

By: HealthNut

HealthNut — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:44:21 +0000

I set a target and aim for it – the next sign, the upcoming cluster of trees. When I reach it, I choose the next. I like the knife through the wind idea.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:14:20 +0000

On the runs that I really am struggling with I either write blog entries in my mind or just focus on getting to the next tree, and once I get there I pick another spot to run to and keep going until I am done.

By: kch

kch — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:21:15 +0000

Visualizing a reward (mmm, beer) is a great idea. I like the ‘running on rubber’ idea too. Thanks, Denise, for the suggestions!

By: Denise

Denise — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:45:43 +0000

I never thought of visualizing like that. I do anticipate the satisfaction of the end of a run and might imagine myself siting happily with a well deserved beer, but this seems like lots more fun. I love the knife visualization, as well as the lasso. I think visualizing running on rubber would help me pick my feet up…

By: Fit Mommy

Fit Mommy — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:32:10 +0000

Yes, I have used visualizations a lot. Particularly in bike racing. Most memorable, is “they are slowing down!! for me”. I like the knife one too.

By: kara

kara — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 16:16:43 +0000

I pretend I’m on a treadmill – somehow it helps my legs turnover…
I like your idea about the lasso!

PS. Did you like Iron Man?

By: kch

kch — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:37:36 +0000

Elisabeth -

First of all, I hope your leg/calf/knee issue is resolved very soon. I know how frustrating it can be to have a lingering problem like that.

Second, thanks for telling us about your visualizations! I especially like the one about your high school gym teacher – it’s probably really powerful for you since it actually occurred in real life!

By: Elisabeth

Elisabeth — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:10:33 +0000

I have a lot of difficult runs because I’m still trying to figure out a leg/calf/knee issue that I can’t quite kick. It’s getting better though. In any case, visualization is crucial in all of my runs.

For me, there are 2 main visualizations that I keep in my head. When I ran my first 5K back in 2003, I went back to my hometown to run it with my sister. I am from a small town, so I knew practically everyone in the race and all of the spectators. In the last 1/4 mile, there is a huge hill, then a straightaway to the finish. Standing at the top of that hill was my high school gym teacher, Miss Dunn. She was clapping and yelling my name, cheering me up the hill. I think that she’s the only reason why I continued running up that hill. When things get really rough for me on a run (especially on hills), I picture her at the top of that hill cheering me on.

Secondly, for some strange reason, visualizing a huge stop light in front of me lit with only the green light helps me pick up the pace.

I think I’ll try your lasso technique in my next race, that’s a good one!