pain

[sparson92]

i feel like my main problem in erg tests is pushing past the pain. i know that the pain is going to be there no matter what, but does anyone have any tips or motivation on pushing through?

Thanks!

Sam

[iain]

I firmly believe that a big part of the early improvement some people make is from learning that they can conquer their pain. I am a relative beginner, but the "sharpening" people do allows them to experience slowly incresing amounts of pain. This is where the level 1 & 2 of WP or Pete plan intervals come in. If you regularly push yourself for shorter times, it becomes easier. Also, I find that I become accustomed to the initial pain if I keep going through it and pure bloody mindedness "I am going to do this and if I stop now I have to do it all over again" gets me through the closing stages.

On longer pieces (I have never done over 1 hour, so can't comment on HM or greater), I haven't felt real pain (ignoring a few bouts of cramp which were presumably from dehydration or electrolyte imbalance and therefore avoidable) at the time except for the closing sprint. Discomfort, trouble staying mentally focussed, needing more and more effort to keep the pace going, yes, but this is a mental game not "pain" as I understand it. Afterwards there is sometimes real pain, but by then hopefully you can console yourself with a new PB.

Have I not been pushing hard enough, have a higher pain threshold or a greater production of endorphins than others, or does everyone find this?

- Iain

[tdekoekkoek]

i feel like my main problem in erg tests is pushing past the pain. i know that the pain is going to be there no matter what, but does anyone have any tips or motivation on pushing through?

I was having this same question before Crash Bs this February. In addition to doing my volume, doing intervals and doing 8*500m with 1:40 rest at race pace, I still had the feeling that around 1100m I had to learn how to push through the pain. So I started a little exercise where I would go at race pace and increase the amount every time. I would do 3 or 4 per workout and do it 2 or 3 times a week. So initially I did 30 strokes at race pace. No problem. Then I did 40. Then 50. The next time I did it I would start higher say at 50 and then 60 and 70. Finally the week before crash bs I did 1400m at race pace and then just had to believe that I still had the last 600 in me. That way I was able to PR.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

[kirbyt]

I have three tricks for getting past the pain of a hard 2k.

OK, the first one is not a trick. Train hard. So hard with 8x500's and 4x2ks, hour of powers etc., that the 2k is almost a relief and your body is ready for it.

Second trick. Tell yourself to keep the breathing calm and steady. It's my belief that as long as you're getting enough O2, the muscular pain is only that: pain, you're not gonna die.

Third trick. Count strokes. I break it into 20's (well, 21s, actually). The first 200m are kind of a freebie: your body is not aware of how hard you're pulling and you're trying to nail down your pace. After that, I just count to 20 or 21 or whatever until I hit another 200m. Put 10 of those in your pocket and you're done.

[iain]

Tell yourself to keep the breathing calm and steady. It's my belief that as long as you're getting enough O2, the muscular pain is only that: pain, you're not gonna die.

Count strokes...

I would go further on the breathing, I find keeping a good rhythm of breathing from the start is a key to a good time. Sometimes I have not breathed deeply at the beginning and this has caught up with me. I lose 2+S/500m when I lose the rhythm and start panting. Settling into full breathing from the start reduces the shock when the oxygen debt kicks in as it happens more gradually. It also gives you something to concentrate on other than the pain, this is the key.

I would also say that concentrating on what you have achieved dulls the pain. So knowing that you are 10% through and on schedule and the pain is only just building helps me at 200m. Then comparing to other sessions helps. At 500m you can compare to your 4x1k and realise that it is a lot less painful than halfway through the 3rd interval and you are going as fast! At 1k you are halfway there. Now you can look at your predicted time, deduct a few seconds for the final thrash and concentrate on achieving that, focussing on how great you will feel when you achieve a new PB. As you approach 1500 just remember how easy the first 500 was, only that much to go. Then its all about making the PB so good that you won't have to do this again for a while.

My other suggestion (one I am poor at doing, but hope to) is imagining (or better having for real) a coxes encouragement and commands. So, even in a TT you can concentrate on improving small defects (strong at the catch, drive from those feet, hands away fast, keep it long etc.) also verbalise the commands (stride it out [settle to racing rating with harder strokes after the fast start], power ten, up 2 [i.e. increase rating], drive for that line etc.).

I also count strokes, but only in power tens or in the closing 500. I find starting another set knowing there are many more to go disheartening.

Regards

Iain