Deadlifts and Distance Running - Training for my Second Trail Race
Welcome to the second instalment of my strength and running journal.
You can find part 1 below.
This time around I’m much better prepared mentally. The systems I put in place for the first race have made it easy to get back into training and ready to go on race day.
After the first 10km run, I took a few days to relax and recover. My central nervous system had taken a beating and I was feeling the physical effects.
It was worth it though. I had challenged my limiting belief and also set the standard for myself. The previously held non-running beliefs were now firmly removed from my thought process.
I am a runner.
Going into the next training block I felt purpose. I had a vision of where I was going. I could picture the obstacles I could possibly face.
Visualisation is a powerful tool. Cognitive processes such as motor control, attention, memory and perception are strengthened during mental imagery. This is the training the mind needs to be adaptable in unknown situations.
I never hit a shot, not even in practice, without having a very sharp in-focus picture of it in my head. — Jack Nicklaus
The UFC fighter Mickey Gall spoke of using this technique during the walk to the octogon in a 2019 episode of The Industrial Show podcast with Joe DeFranco. He channels his energy to focus on the opening exchanges of the fight and making sure they go as planned.
How can this feature of professional athletes be applied to everyday life?
If you have a big gym session coming up, think about it on the way there. Picture in your mind you doing the lift.
It could be an important meeting at work. Picture yourself delivering the killer PowerPoint. You answer the questions thrown your way elegantly and clear.
Create the mind-muscle connection.
It wasn’t all easy preparation for the event.
The week before the race, I went for a run and felt awful. My legs were heavy and I had to slow it right down. I went out which was what mattered.
2 weeks prior I had attempted a heavy 3 rep max on my squat at a weight I had done before. I was capable of doing it. I got the first rep in and failed on the second.
My confidence took a hit and the rest of the session lacked intensity and conviction.
I thought it over and over the rest of the day. I had two choices.
- Let it affect me and wallow in my own self-pity.
- Move on.
I chose the latter.
Instead of simply forgetting it, I investigated why it happened. I came to the conclusion that I didn't believe I was going to do it which resulted in me losing my focus. Without this, I couldn't fully concentrate on the lift.
I decided not to let it happen again.
The next week I went in and loaded up the same weight.
I was going to do it this week.
I visualised it happening the night before and on the way to the gym.
I zoned in with intent at each stage of the lift.
Nice and tight with the bar across my back. A good push off from the rack. Feet set. Inhale and down. Exhale and up. That’s one.
The same again. Two.
A final big inhale. Down. Up. Three. Re-rack the bar.
As a society, we tend to demonise failure. A student who fails their exams and misses out on a place at college or university is often viewed as being not good enough.
Growing up this was me.
I was scared of failing an exam because I had decided that meant I wouldn't be able to go to university or get a “good job”.
It’s only now I’ve left education I realise that it's okay to fail. At times it's necessary.
The TV presenter Jake Humphrey (who I first saw on BAMZOOKI as a kid, if you know, you know), credits failure as the reason he became who he is today in his book High Performance: Lessons from the Best on Becoming Your Best.
If he hadn’t failed his exams, he wouldn’t have gotten into the TV industry or gone on to become the main presenter for Formula 1 and BT Sport.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn — John C. Maxwell
I failed the lift and had a bad run however it wasn’t the end of the world.
Race Day
In the days leading up to the event, the weather was bad. Not only a bit of rain and wind.
Storm Dudley and Eunice were ripping their way across central and southern Scotland. Winds of up to 90mph were experienced. It was raining too. Typical for Scotland.
With the race scheduled for Saturday and the weather taking a turn for the worse on Wednesday and Thursday, I waited to see what the decision would be from the race organisers.
They decided to cancel it in the interests of safety. There was to be no race day.
I can’t argue with that. The route is difficult at the best of times. The storms would have made it even worse.
The lesson I learned here was not to be downhearted but instead look at the bigger picture. Factors out of your control were at play. You can’t defeat Mother Nature.
This event would only have been a stepping stone on my way towards the marathon in May. I will be running longer distances in the coming weeks.
Instead, I got a good gym session in and had lunch with friends. I focused on what I can control and being present.
So what the second race never happened.
While I’m slightly disappointed, I’m proud of the work I’ve put in to prepare and be ready. Running is becoming more natural. We don’t know what the exact circumstances are going to be at every point in life however we can do our best to prepare.
Being proactive as opposed to reactive is what separates us from a response that we could later regret.
I experienced a failed lift as part of my preparation. I knew I physically could do it. So I looked into the inner workings of my mind to find out why.
And trust the process.
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