The extraordinary runner I used to run with and against used to say he would prepare his mind to accept the fact he was going to run through maximum pain so that he would accept it.Thanks Nick.
That seems like a good idea but you don't want to be doing this for every race you do. For your key races then yeah but if you constantly push your body to the absolute extreme every time you race, you're going to lose your edge. Maybe this is more applicable in distance running I don't know
Totally agree with the visualization part. I remember that I'd need at least several days to psych myself up for the races that really mattered to me, and it involved things like visualizing myself running strong toward the end of the race when I'm getting tired. I don't think I could have run anything close to my PRs without at least a day or two of mental preparation.
Last chance for a sub 6 mile in middle school, the difference is mental at this point Edit: Ran a 5:55, my goal was a sub 5:50, but I am still happy about my time
Let’s say I mentally prepare for a race (as everyone should) and it doesn’t go as well as I had planned. How did you deal with disappointments like that? Is it as simple as “pick yourself up and go again” or did you find that there were certain things that helped?
Depends on the race. Early season is mostly about shrugging it off and getting back to work. A bad race in championship season can take weeks or even months to get over.
This is really good! I would also add visualizing how you want to feel at the end of the race and then work backwards to put those steps in the place. So for example if I want to close hard in a race I work on this during practice or if I want to have high energy before a race I do my best to sleep well the night before. Combing visualizations with some subtle actions to help reinforce it, works wonders.
Visualization is huge. Before districts each year our coach would have us practice a victory lap every single day for the last week before districts and we won 4 years in a row. He got the idea from a basketball coach who spent the last week before the championships having his players practice cutting down the basketball net to visualize that win.
Great words of wisdom! Nick, you are so correct. My first basketball coach when I was only 4 or 5 taught me the importance of pre-visualization of everything; not just the common "making the free-throw" but every aspect of the game. I have used this all my life and even in my professional career. I think it helps me be a better financial advisor to my clients.
In long distance races (2mile and up) I always tune out and think of songs in my head for the first 3/5 of the race and then turn on my gears and move up and become more aggressive. It’s so much more fulfilling holding back and passing later in the race. My 800s I would focus on breaking the race in eighths and just thinking of hitting my ideal splits and then in the last 300m tell myself I’m halfway done when really I’m almost done and drive home.
I have the nationals this week and those guys run around 1.50 on 800 and i just runned last week a 600m in 1.22 and that just made me very scared cuz i dont think i can keep the pace with them
Greetings, Would love for you to have a talk session with our track athletes about mental toughness and relate it to track training preparation. Respectfully Coach Kenny 301 Panthers
Nick What if i say "What If I Win This Race" Will that motivate the runner to do better causing it to be curious and give more potienal than they thought they had
make sure to not drink to much right before y'know, you can really feel the water sloshing around if you down a lot the day of your race. Try just drinking generally more water the week of and a little more a day or two before your race.
Pain is temporary, winning lasts forever
I truly agree.
(unless you get injured)
@@coastalbeaches7181 that one win lasts forever he means
Well said
even 4 years later this is still amazing
Haha, totally agree with the XC thoughts. I always ask myself midway through the race “why am I doing this”, yet here I am still doing it 😂
XC is brutal!!
Agreed, as somebody that ran in 8 different XC races
The extraordinary runner I used to run with and against used to say he would prepare his mind to accept the fact he was going to run through maximum pain so that he would accept it.Thanks Nick.
That seems like a good idea but you don't want to be doing this for every race you do. For your key races then yeah but if you constantly push your body to the absolute extreme every time you race, you're going to lose your edge. Maybe this is more applicable in distance running I don't know
yeah, accepting and embracing the pain is an important step to success in distance running
@@leocossham true you don't want to go 100% in every race, but it doesn't hurt to visualize before every race
Totally agree with the visualization part. I remember that I'd need at least several days to psych myself up for the races that really mattered to me, and it involved things like visualizing myself running strong toward the end of the race when I'm getting tired. I don't think I could have run anything close to my PRs without at least a day or two of mental preparation.
So important! A very handy skill for young runners to learn
Last chance for a sub 6 mile in middle school, the difference is mental at this point
Edit: Ran a 5:55, my goal was a sub 5:50, but I am still happy about my time
How does Nick not have more subs?
haha its creeping up. Maybe a few collaborations with other UA-camrs would help?
Nick Symmonds yep they probably would! That would be great
I know Nick should have more subs like he puts so much good content on his channel. Maybe not most people are interested in running. But I am! ;)
He did it
He's at 1.6 mil now :)
Great advice. When I was a coach of JH and HS athletes I tried to convey how important mindset is in a race.
thats good coaching! some coaches don't really bother to mention/teach it
This video helped me PR by 12 seconds in the 2 mile at regionals. Thank you!
Let’s say I mentally prepare for a race (as everyone should) and it doesn’t go as well as I had planned. How did you deal with disappointments like that? Is it as simple as “pick yourself up and go again” or did you find that there were certain things that helped?
Depends on the race. Early season is mostly about shrugging it off and getting back to work. A bad race in championship season can take weeks or even months to get over.
@@nicksymmonds I had regionals 3 weeks ago and I thought I would do a lot better then I did
This is really good! I would also add visualizing how you want to feel at the end of the race and then work backwards to put those steps in the place. So for example if I want to close hard in a race I work on this during practice or if I want to have high energy before a race I do my best to sleep well the night before. Combing visualizations with some subtle actions to help reinforce it, works wonders.
GREAT advice!! Thanks for sharing this.
Visualization is huge. Before districts each year our coach would have us practice a victory lap every single day for the last week before districts and we won 4 years in a row. He got the idea from a basketball coach who spent the last week before the championships having his players practice cutting down the basketball net to visualize that win.
Great words of wisdom! Nick, you are so correct. My first basketball coach when I was only 4 or 5 taught me the importance of pre-visualization of everything; not just the common "making the free-throw" but every aspect of the game. I have used this all my life and even in my professional career. I think it helps me be a better financial advisor to my clients.
lol the first cross country race of season i was also like why did i sign up for this haha nice video nick!
thank you! It can be especially challenging to stay mental strong in long, tough XC races.
When u have an xc race tomorrow and your stressing so much
Same, I am even experiencing that for a PE mile
2:30 did. exactly this yesterday longjump pb by over 50 cm
thats HUGE! Congrats on the big PB
The ending to the video was super inspiring
very glad you found it inspiring! Trying to make these videos as inspiring as possible.
Great video Nick! Never really thought about mentally preparing before the race.
it can be really helpful! glad you liked the video, thank you for watching!!!
“why am i doing this” dude i relate so hard to that😭
Same, 3 laps in and I feel like I will die in 30 seconds
Have you ever thought about selling Run Gum Internationally cause this sports store called Decathlon is like every country but USA?
We do have a few international distributors. I've not yet heard of Decathlon.
Their based out of France but like a one stop shop for adventure from hiking,biking,running,mountaineering etc etc
Nick that Run Gum An Alaskan Mile is super sweet! Great idea!!!
Everytime befor I run I always feel like I have to poop and my breathe control isn’t well either
In long distance races (2mile and up) I always tune out and think of songs in my head for the first 3/5 of the race and then turn on my gears and move up and become more aggressive. It’s so much more fulfilling holding back and passing later in the race. My 800s I would focus on breaking the race in eighths and just thinking of hitting my ideal splits and then in the last 300m tell myself I’m halfway done when really I’m almost done and drive home.
love this! playing little mental games with oneself can be really useful.
Lol when I do the mile I just don’t think cuz I know what I have to do and when from practice. And also I’m in a lot of pain. Same for the 8
haha I know exactly what you mean!
Great video nick! Sorry, I don’t have an IG, so I’ll ask here. Is 3200/3000 more long distance or middle distance in your opinion?
more long distance. I really only consider 800/1500 to be middle distance
Thanks. Confusing because it’s labeled as both 50/50 of the time.
I am watching this because I do Xc. It is really hard but I’m good at it so 🤷🏾♂️
I am in the same position as you, I don't know where you are at now, hopefully you are still running
Got a time trial tommorow let you know how it goes
I have the nationals this week and those guys run around 1.50 on 800 and i just runned last week a 600m in 1.22 and that just made me very scared cuz i dont think i can keep the pace with them
New balance nationals? If so, I know my best friend/ teammate is going with our team and he runs like a 1:51. So competitions tough
jump in and hang tough! Those other runners might tow you to a new personal best!!
@@assmunch8633 sounds tough!!
Great video, thank you so much
my pleasure! Thanks for watching
I'm pretty scared to run the 1600 tomorrow I really want to break my time
Same, I am trying to break 6:00 on the 1600/Mile
You are doing a great job 👍🏻 I am from India
Hey Nick what food is better before 1 day to race and wt should be taken on race day morning......
Thanks sir for your information 🙏
I am middle distance runner (800mtr)
I have one question
How can i improve my striding while on race ???
So you can measure the amount of steps in a 800m
Then you can try to do it in less steps at the same pace feeling comfortable
Greetings,
Would love for you to have a talk session with our track athletes about mental toughness and relate it to track training preparation.
Respectfully
Coach Kenny
301 Panthers
Just found ur account omg I love these vids can you do more workouts
Phlippians 4 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
Why is it that I ran 460 miles in the summer and can’t get back to my old pr from a year ago
Thanks for the great vídeo! Super cool
thank YOU for watching it! :D
Nick What if i say "What If I Win This Race" Will that motivate the runner to do better causing it to be curious and give more potienal than they thought they had
If the difference is mental then it can motivate them
If they are like a whole 30 seconds from 1st then probably not too much
How’s your day so far nick😄
really good! Thanks for asking
NIck can you collab with Zach Levet?
I wish UA-cam was this and not ASMR and weird crap
I don't know what your watching because most content is geniune
I have a race in an hour
IS IT BEST TO DRINK AND EAT LOTS OF WATER AN HOUR BEFORE A RACE? #ASKNICK
make sure to not drink to much right before y'know, you can really feel the water sloshing around if you down a lot the day of your race. Try just drinking generally more water the week of and a little more a day or two before your race.
But i need my phone
Anybody here for virtual?