|
|
|
|
 |
Email
|
Marathon Tips: Running Injuries, Anxiety, and More
Attack of the Nagging Fears
What are you afraid of? Injury? Blisters? The wall? Whatever it is, there's a way to fight back when running anxiety strikes
By
-
Hurdle Your Running Worries
-
1
Getting Injured
-
2
Falling Behind
-
3
Tackling Hard Hills
-
4
Failing to Hit Speedwork Goals
-
5
Coming in Last
-
6
Falling Off the Treadmill
-
7
Hitting the Wall
-
8
Gaining Weight
-
9
Facing Resistance from My Family
-
10
Feeling Exhausted on Hot Runs
-
11
Getting Blisters from New Shoes
-
12
Saying Goodbye to Personal Bests
-
13
Not Finishing
-
14
Needing to Take an Unplanned Pit Stop
-
15
Never Getting into a Bucket-List Race
-
16
Race-Day Anxiety
-
17
Getting Lost or Hurt on Trail Runs
-
18
Catching a Cold
-
19
Not Running Again
-
20
Fear of [Fill in the Blank]
Falling Behind
The Fix: Close the gap quickly
At some point, every runner gets dropped, whether on a long, hard run or in track repeats. Stiffness or fatigue from a recent workout is a legit reason for not keeping up; allow more recovery in the future. So is running with a too-fast crowd; pick a slower group next time or accept that it may take a while to get fit enough to run with cheetahs. Or you might just be having an off day.
But sometimes there are no excuses. "If you think you're in the same shape as your buddies, and they start pulling away, close the gap before it gets too large," says Lowell Ladd, a 2:22 marathoner and online running coach. "Better yet, refuse to fall behind by more than three strides, because there's a psychological benefit to staying close. That's why packs form at races—because it's mentally easier to share the workload of hitting a pace."
Think Positive: "There is no failure here, sweetheart, just when you quit." —U2
Related Content
Advertisement
There's More on Twitter!
Get up-to-the-minute tips on fitness, healthy eating, weight loss and more
Must-see on MSN
