Learning that it was always going to hurt and that I would just be able to do it for longer was the light-bulb moment for me. The day when running became a bit more mental than physical allowed me to see (and feel!) it all in a different way.
So much of pain management can be mentality, one part is saying keep going but on the other side your head is asking you to stop. You focus on the side that’s telling you to go. Keep saying to your self “I can make it, I can do this, Pain is temporary” also think about the finish, go into deep thought. The more you go off focus from the pain the faster the race will go by.
Yeah. Getting stronger doesn't mean less pain, only that you run faster while experiencing the same thing. And very much agree that shorter distances aren't easier or harder than longer. Just different. After years of running half marathons/marathons/ultras types of distances, and never really doing much intensity in training, I went back to the track to do some 800m. Hadn't done that in like 10 years. I knew it would be hard - but somehow, part of me was like "yeah but... it's going to be like 150 seconds or something... at least it won't be a 24 hours slug". That felt HARD. I swear time dilated during to 2 minutes and a bit.
+Harith K That's because you see it on a sign at nearly every race that's ever been ran. I like Nietzsche's slightly more erudite quote, "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
10:07 best advice for the common runner non-elite. Run for the challenge and against yourself - don't worry what other people are doing. Pat yourself on the back for the training and your accomplishment whatever your pace, distance, etc.
I'm working on my pace-tience. Great video. I love the feeling of running fast and breathing hard, but my joints aren't ready to keep up with me yet in a high-mileage way - especially on the hilly terrain I usually like to run on. Currently working on developing slower gears and taking days on flat routes. It can be kind of boring honestly, but I know it's going to allow me to push even longer and harder and faster in the mountains. Your videos have helped me a lot to develop in recent months. Thanks for the help.
Good talk, Sage. Managing that pain is one of the things I struggle the most with come race day. When I want to put my best out there but my brain says "Stop STOP!".
Sage, keep up the good work on the videos! Just a quick comment on incorporating work into your training. As a father of 3 kids and working a full time job I needed to find ways to fit in my long runs into my busy schedule. Doing my long training runs after a 10 hour work schedule allowed me to run on some tire feet and help simulate running on tired legs and body. Thanks again for the vids!
Great piece & rundown on managing pain during workouts & races. Instead of disassociating from the pain, I invite the pain in and feel it, get to know it well. Most of the time it works well, especially if I can work with a negative split race or hard run.
Amazing topic. Subscribed. I personally improved my PBs after listening to the audiobook "The willpower instinct" by Kelly McGonigal. After that book I am able to accept way more pain and for longer periods in races than ever before.
Great video, great message Sage. I could not agree more with you about the importance of learning to manage varying degrees of pain, differentiating between fatigue versus injury related pain and embracing discomfort as a fundamental aspect of improving performance and achieving goals. If you're not suffering at some point during quality sessions, you're not pushing hard enough! I also like what you say about self-induced training/racing pain (voluntary) versus much worse real-life pain and suffering (involuntary). Great job!
I’m running cross country right now and all I know is that pain makes character, it’s because of the pain you get stronger mentally and physically. If you stop during a race it takes more energy and pain to start up again if you just keep it moving
I've seen people stop mid-race and walk, and dude, I could never. I feel like if I stopped during a race I'd be like i just disgraced my entire bloodline
Wow, I’m really glad I came across this video! I’ve started a 5k program and wondered about slowing down during the intervals, wondering if I should try mentally pushing them even when I’m out of breath or my HR is going crazy. Thank you for sharing!
With my last half marathon i got so into the zone that i almost did not suffer but i was gasping for air the last 4k, it took a good 2 weeks to recover from that tho. Thanks for the video (:
Great video as always. It would be cool, if you could do a talk on how to get climbing legs for uphill races/skyrunning type of events. Any specific workouts? Or just more climibing, even on easy days? :)
Great takeaways and cogent reminders from this talk! Would it be possible to do a Part 2 where you just describe some specific injuries and common pains - like IT Band, tendinitis in knees, Achilles, and quad pain etc?? I had some weird pain recently in my lower legs (everything between my knees and ankles - not just calves, but everything) and during the run they just started shaking and throbbing and hurting so bad I had to stop. THIS WAS IN BOTH LEGS SIMULTANEOUSLY. I had also just switch road and trail shoes to Hokas - though I think that's not the cause here. I thought it might be because of my calf sleeves; but I'm ruling that out. And I was running fairly consistently ~ 3 times a week. I hadn't been running much from Christmas to early February, and I was running around 15-25 miles per week back in the Fall and late Summer. I hope the pain is gone now, I just took 4 days off running, and will probably attempt tomorrow. I know you're not a doctor; and thanks for everything!
The art of running faster - Julian goater. Honestly this book is amazing and Julian was a professional runner. He doesn't lie about getting quicker easier and proves hard work pays off.
Im a 9:53 3200m runner and I was seeded 6th at districts went out with a bad mind set felt more pain then I should have and ran a 10:19, mind you a time I’ve run in a workout.
Timmy Bedford here with another training talk...Hey You should do a training talk about how to balance being fit for high vert. trail races (speedgoat, the rut, etc.) AND for road races (10k, half marathons, etc). Like you had to do training for the OTQ while competing in ultras.
It's a tough thing to balance out i feel like leading up to my marathon this april i have had a few scary times where im so close to injury and its pretty obvious that i need to take a day or 3 off. Losing that 1 day or 3 days or a week is really hard for people myself included but you have to trust yourself to make the decision to push through or take a break. In the end you know your body the best and should make your decision in a professional way think of it like a job if your get injured you wont have any income to support yourself. Running is the same time off equals lost income aka lost gains lost endurance whatever it might be.
+youratowel14 I think you're over thinking this one. Adages are useful because they succinctly relate an ageless truth. Thus the running adage, it's better to get to the start line under-trained and healthy than over-trained and injured.
If you really want to do well, a great runner doesn't care, we'd rather go to the hospital, than be embarrassed by 'giving up', that's just goes with territory, so when racing or training, you're just so pumped up, that you're focused on the task at hand, not some little bit of searing pain....that's what we live for, easy
That is a good question. Scott Jurek says to not use them because it can mask the pain and allow you to do more damage to it than without. I wonder what Sage thinks about it?
Neither help nor cheat, it's just stupid. Don't mask the pain that can come up and if you are already in pain, don't run at all. It can be hard when the race is an important one in your eyes but normally it is just not worth it.
How to run through a side stitch? I have been suffering with those. I feel comfortable with my pace, i'm breathing, my Heart rate is fairly low.. and BOOOM it hits and ruins my run. I can run through leg cramps and fatigue.. but side stitch. no.
Hey there great vid as always, I'm 40 this year I used to love running and I really want to get back into it, my diet is plant based, what advice can you give me on for example how often to train? Any tips would be great
Sage, Please coach us on as how you are training for Marathon day. For example, While training for 50k training, How much do you run last 30 days ? I understand we increase slowly towards to 50k. Will you hit 50k before one week before Marathon day and take rest couple of days off
This video is perfect timing for me. I have a half next Saturday with the goal of a sub 1:35 (I don't think 1:30 is in the cards just yet). Accepting and embracing pain has been crucial in my training. But I still need to learn how to hold back, I've had a handful of injuries the past few months due to my eagerness.
+Alexis Martone Good luck! I just ran my first sub 1:30 (thanks to Sandi/Sage's plan), and was suprised what a huge difference it is pain wise to running 1:35.
Sage, I am trying to destroy a PR in a fall marathon. If my weekly base mileage prior to the "official" 16 week training period should be pretty high for me(70ish). Assuming that I hit that goal how do I approach weekly mileage at the start of the training period? I purchased your Boston Qualifying plan and the weekly mileage would drop for me if I follow it to a tee...
During my ultras or even a marathon, a lot of my pain is in the groin area. Those muscles seem to cramp up first. Do you think this is a form issue? Or what would cause that to start hurting before my quads and calves?
I would suggest try to run without music, because u tend to listen to your body more. I know it will be hard when u reach 20km(12 miles) without music but I find I run faster without music. To each his own though. Led Zeppelin is my jam when I don run
Your legs can cope with the pain. Your lungs won't burst either. It's all about playing games with your mind.
I needed to hear this ,thank you
Totally agree, my mind say STOPPPPPPPPPP. Try to overcome that 😢
Thanks this actually helped to hear
racing never gets any easier. no truer words have been spoken.
+Josh really? why is that? holy... plz do not disappoint me! im just beginning running and hope that someday it ll just get natural to me!
Maria Vegano It does get easier if you go the same pace... what he means is running doesn’t get any easier, you just get faster
It all sucks the same but yet so good at the same time
It's actually glory that is forever. Pride dies with you. Glory lives on. :P
I like to tell myself that when it hurts alot it's because I have more energy and the pain is just the energy getting burned.
Learning that it was always going to hurt and that I would just be able to do it for longer was the light-bulb moment for me. The day when running became a bit more mental than physical allowed me to see (and feel!) it all in a different way.
Amazing isn't it, the realization itself as a tool. The mind is such an awesome and powerful mechanism
So much of pain management can be mentality, one part is saying keep going but on the other side your head is asking you to stop. You focus on the side that’s telling you to go. Keep saying to your self “I can make it, I can do this, Pain is temporary” also think about the finish, go into deep thought. The more you go off focus from the pain the faster the race will go by.
trying to prepare myself mentally by watching a bunch of youtube videos.thanks this one was helpfull
did it work?
Well said, our pain is a choice, and a privilege. We should be grateful!
Back when I was suicidal and had depression i used to run myself to pain, felt so good, felt so much pleasure afterwards
Sage Can-A-Day
SmokeFreeSte 😂😂😂😂
Yeah. Getting stronger doesn't mean less pain, only that you run faster while experiencing the same thing.
And very much agree that shorter distances aren't easier or harder than longer. Just different. After years of running half marathons/marathons/ultras types of distances, and never really doing much intensity in training, I went back to the track to do some 800m. Hadn't done that in like 10 years. I knew it would be hard - but somehow, part of me was like "yeah but... it's going to be like 150 seconds or something... at least it won't be a 24 hours slug".
That felt HARD. I swear time dilated during to 2 minutes and a bit.
Your opening quote is written permanently on my home gym's whiteboard.
+Harith K That's because you see it on a sign at nearly every race that's ever been ran. I like Nietzsche's slightly more erudite quote, "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
10:07 best advice for the common runner non-elite. Run for the challenge and against yourself - don't worry what other people are doing. Pat yourself on the back for the training and your accomplishment whatever your pace, distance, etc.
I'm working on my pace-tience. Great video. I love the feeling of running fast and breathing hard, but my joints aren't ready to keep up with me yet in a high-mileage way - especially on the hilly terrain I usually like to run on. Currently working on developing slower gears and taking days on flat routes. It can be kind of boring honestly, but I know it's going to allow me to push even longer and harder and faster in the mountains. Your videos have helped me a lot to develop in recent months. Thanks for the help.
Good talk, Sage. Managing that pain is one of the things I struggle the most with come race day. When I want to put my best out there but my brain says "Stop STOP!".
Awesome Sage. I'm glad you went over some things twice, it can take a while to soak in.
I learned a lot with that one.
Sage, keep up the good work on the videos! Just a quick comment on incorporating work into your training. As a father of 3 kids and working a full time job I needed to find ways to fit in my long runs into my busy schedule. Doing my long training runs after a 10 hour work schedule allowed me to run on some tire feet and help simulate running on tired legs and body. Thanks again for the vids!
+George Orozco same thing here standing up all day and then going for a run makes you quite strong.
Great piece & rundown on managing pain during workouts & races. Instead of disassociating from the pain, I invite the pain in and feel it, get to know it well. Most of the time it works well, especially if I can work with a negative split race or hard run.
How bad do you want it? from Matt Fitzgerald is an interesting read knowing about the mental side and the perceived effort
Best running tips channel I can find on UA-cam
Minute 2:34 as Greg Lemond said about cycling. "It never gets easier you only get faster".
Is it advisable to take Aleve or some other over the counter pain reliever for the races or even really hard workouts?
Good topic. Personally I find myself praying like crazy that I can just hold on to the pace and not stop and walk.
Amazing topic. Subscribed. I personally improved my PBs after listening to the audiobook "The willpower instinct" by Kelly McGonigal. After that book I am able to accept way more pain and for longer periods in races than ever before.
Brilliant Sage. It's about balance, and you can't be racing everyday. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Great video, great message Sage. I could not agree more with you about the importance of learning to manage varying degrees of pain, differentiating between fatigue versus injury related pain and embracing discomfort as a fundamental aspect of improving performance and achieving goals. If you're not suffering at some point during quality sessions, you're not pushing hard enough! I also like what you say about self-induced training/racing pain (voluntary) versus much worse real-life pain and suffering (involuntary). Great job!
What a great advert for distance and middle distance running (great video.)
I’m running cross country right now and all I know is that pain makes character, it’s because of the pain you get stronger mentally and physically. If you stop during a race it takes more energy and pain to start up again if you just keep it moving
I've seen people stop mid-race and walk, and dude, I could never.
I feel like if I stopped during a race I'd be like i just disgraced my entire bloodline
Wow, I’m really glad I came across this video! I’ve started a 5k program and wondered about slowing down during the intervals, wondering if I should try mentally pushing them even when I’m out of breath or my HR is going crazy. Thank you for sharing!
With my last half marathon i got so into the zone that i almost did not suffer but i was gasping for air the last 4k, it took a good 2 weeks to recover from that tho. Thanks for the video (:
Thanks a lot Sage. That's really helpful and inspiring
your a gun sage.. always watching and taking valuable advice from your videos keep up you good work
I like the perspective it is a choice as part of celebrating the human physical spirit. Nice video.
Thanks Sage! Always great to hear the inspiration. Keep em coming.
Good training talk, I haven't heard this topic before. Thanks.
That starting line! 👌
What a great guy! Thank you Sage! Big fan 😊
Great video as always. It would be cool, if you could do a talk on how to get climbing legs for uphill races/skyrunning type of events. Any specific workouts? Or just more climibing, even on easy days? :)
Great takeaways and cogent reminders from this talk! Would it be possible to do a Part 2 where you just describe some specific injuries and common pains - like IT Band, tendinitis in knees, Achilles, and quad pain etc??
I had some weird pain recently in my lower legs (everything between my knees and ankles - not just calves, but everything) and during the run they just started shaking and throbbing and hurting so bad I had to stop. THIS WAS IN BOTH LEGS SIMULTANEOUSLY. I had also just switch road and trail shoes to Hokas - though I think that's not the cause here. I thought it might be because of my calf sleeves; but I'm ruling that out. And I was running fairly consistently ~ 3 times a week. I hadn't been running much from Christmas to early February, and I was running around 15-25 miles per week back in the Fall and late Summer.
I hope the pain is gone now, I just took 4 days off running, and will probably attempt tomorrow. I know you're not a doctor; and thanks for everything!
Thanks! This helped a bunch.
The pain doesn’t change what does is how you handle the pain
I run hard every day cos Im addicted to the pain.
Teach me pls
Another great vid, Sage! Could you discuss strength training/core work and how it compliments running?
Another great training talk. Thanks Sage :)
Great video. Thank you Sage :)
Awesome video.
just an excellent video
Good advice Sage!thanks for the vids, I apply your concepts to cycling!
Very good theme, thank you...
What's the best technical book on running and sport physiology you could recommend?
+Sweet Natural Living "How Bad Do You Want It" by Matt Fitzgerald is a good start.
+Sweet Natural Living "Running Science" by Anderson is a good in depth and technique book on running and physiology.
Jack Daniels Running Formula
The Lore of Running by Tim Noakes.
The art of running faster - Julian goater. Honestly this book is amazing and Julian was a professional runner. He doesn't lie about getting quicker easier and proves hard work pays off.
Im a 9:53 3200m runner and I was seeded 6th at districts went out with a bad mind set felt more pain then I should have and ran a 10:19, mind you a time I’ve run in a workout.
Timmy Bedford here with another training talk...Hey You should do a training talk about how to balance being fit for high vert. trail races (speedgoat, the rut, etc.) AND for road races (10k, half marathons, etc). Like you had to do training for the OTQ while competing in ultras.
Video on best ways to get over injuries but stay in shape would be awesome
Cross training.
Oh hi
It's a tough thing to balance out i feel like leading up to my marathon this april i have had a few scary times where im so close to injury and its pretty obvious that i need to take a day or 3 off. Losing that 1 day or 3 days or a week is really hard for people myself included but you have to trust yourself to make the decision to push through or take a break. In the end you know your body the best and should make your decision in a professional way think of it like a job if your get injured you wont have any income to support yourself. Running is the same time off equals lost income aka lost gains lost endurance whatever it might be.
+youratowel14 I think you're over thinking this one. Adages are useful because they succinctly relate an ageless truth. Thus the running adage, it's better to get to the start line under-trained and healthy than over-trained and injured.
That was a great opening man!!!!
If you really want to do well, a great runner doesn't care, we'd rather go to the hospital, than be embarrassed by 'giving up', that's just goes with territory, so when racing or training, you're just so pumped up, that you're focused on the task at hand, not some little bit of searing pain....that's what we live for, easy
So what about pain killers in running? Help or cheat?
That is a good question. Scott Jurek says to not use them because it can mask the pain and allow you to do more damage to it than without. I wonder what Sage thinks about it?
I think that's a pretty good question.
Neither help nor cheat, it's just stupid. Don't mask the pain that can come up and if you are already in pain, don't run at all. It can be hard when the race is an important one in your eyes but normally it is just not worth it.
grindpalm Pain is the bodies way of showing it is hurt and needs to recover. If it is intense, pain killers may just make it worse and risk injury..
nah dude
Great video SAGE!!
You should make a video of your running form at full speed, like mine.
How to run through a side stitch? I have been suffering with those. I feel comfortable with my pace, i'm breathing, my Heart rate is fairly low.. and BOOOM it hits and ruins my run. I can run through leg cramps and fatigue.. but side stitch. no.
Whats the song in the beginning?
Is it healthy to keep running while the body wants you to stop?
Best intro ever, hahaha !
No pain no gain
Hi........, what's with all the drinks in the start of almost all your videos .....😂
10th like 😜......
Sage is sponsored by Avery brewing - and being a ultra runner beer can be a embedded part of the lifestyle.
Hey there great vid as always, I'm 40 this year I used to love running and I really want to get back into it, my diet is plant based, what advice can you give me on for example how often to train? Any tips would be great
good advice sir!
Great video sage
Personally I usually start with around a 5:30 first mile then it’s about 6:00 for the other one/two, anyone have any advice for this?
What song is used for the intro?
I really need to know
Sage, Please coach us on as how you are training for Marathon day. For example, While training for 50k training, How much do you run last 30 days ? I understand we increase slowly towards to 50k. Will you hit 50k before one week before Marathon day and take rest couple of days off
This video is perfect timing for me. I have a half next Saturday with the goal of a sub 1:35 (I don't think 1:30 is in the cards just yet). Accepting and embracing pain has been crucial in my training. But I still need to learn how to hold back, I've had a handful of injuries the past few months due to my eagerness.
+Alexis Martone Good luck! I just ran my first sub 1:30 (thanks to Sandi/Sage's plan), and was suprised what a huge difference it is pain wise to running 1:35.
+jakub cerny Thank you! That's awesome, good for you! sub 1:30 is something to be very proud of. Hopefully one day I get there.
Sage, I am trying to destroy a PR in a fall marathon. If my weekly base mileage prior to the "official" 16 week training period should be pretty high for me(70ish). Assuming that I hit that goal how do I approach weekly mileage at the start of the training period? I purchased your Boston Qualifying plan and the weekly mileage would drop for me if I follow it to a tee...
During my ultras or even a marathon, a lot of my pain is in the groin area. Those muscles seem to cramp up first. Do you think this is a form issue? Or what would cause that to start hurting before my quads and calves?
You're testicles are just to large.
Try to pull your heel closer to your but and raise your knees lower. Be mindful of your heal strike.
How to get faster pace?
My current pace: 7:00 - 7:03 per pile
how long do you keep up that pace?
1:40 "suffering in agony for hours on end"... lol. not sure i should watch this the week running up to my first 100k, but what the hell.
Sage - do you listen to music while training? What about during races?
I would suggest try to run without music, because u tend to listen to your body more. I know it will be hard when u reach 20km(12 miles) without music but I find I run faster without music. To each his own though. Led Zeppelin is my jam when I don run
What's the name of the workout song
11:08 Helped to hear
I get the pain afterwards. Up to 22k aiming for 30
Running really hurts everything
It never gets easy . . .
I have seen you on so many videos
Is beer the secret to good running? 😉😆
Craig M what about those who don’t take beer
😩😩😩
nice intro.
Great video! (-:
should i be feeling some kind of pain during an easy run
yes
Runners need to know their limitations and when to stop pushing it. Especially runners over 35 yrs of age...….
Pain management . . . sip (beer).
i mean the top ten seconds i cringed twice (the sip) (the quote)
I cringed at ur name bitch
cardio is pretty easy, joint pain is hard.
I am runner..someday i have option of crawl rather than walk after training
echinacea
Barely passed chem eng @ Cornell?? Lol
Elliot rodgers
1
can you just learn to get to the point~/?
meow