Ok So your running along and suddenly it happens, pain occurs
it could be anything from a thorn in your foot, a twisted ankle, or a twinge in a muscle. But this is an important race, you must continue - but the pain is too much. How do you continue to go
Do you
a) try to forget about the pain and ignore it
b) use the pain constructively to make you go faster
The Pain Barrier
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The Pain Barrier
Last edited by Numbskull on Wed Jun 16, 2004 8:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Numbskull
Well if really is a twisted ankle then I doubt you will be getting much further...
Personally I would take a quick stop and work out what the pain is. If it is something like a thorn then I would continue (and also make a decision about whether removing it for the distance left is worthwhile). A twinge muscled would probably have me running a bit more and if it got worse stopping.
Anything more serious then I would be stopping. The possibilty of doing lasting damage is too great and I would much rather be able to run again soon having dropped out of the one race than potentially leave myself unable to run or even walk for a long time.
So really the poll is lacking the third middle option, which is infinitely more sensible than either of the other two.
Personally I would take a quick stop and work out what the pain is. If it is something like a thorn then I would continue (and also make a decision about whether removing it for the distance left is worthwhile). A twinge muscled would probably have me running a bit more and if it got worse stopping.
Anything more serious then I would be stopping. The possibilty of doing lasting damage is too great and I would much rather be able to run again soon having dropped out of the one race than potentially leave myself unable to run or even walk for a long time.
So really the poll is lacking the third middle option, which is infinitely more sensible than either of the other two.
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Simon - brown
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'the pain barrier' in my experience is a completely different thing to what you're describing robert, which is getting injured in a race. now unless you are a numbskull, when you get injured you generally do the sensible thing and drop out to prevent worsening the injury, and to commence rehab as quickly as possible.
'hitting the pain barrier' - isn't that when your body starts to complain through sheer physical exertion? the way you react to that situation depends upon your fitness and your pyschological toughness. if you're not fit enough or havent prepared for the race properly (e.g dehydrated due to a hangover) then even if you try to run through the pain barrier then you'll probably end up a wobbly legged wreck fairly quickly anyway. trust me, i've experience in that one. if you've trained for the inevitability of hitting the pain barrier (like a top class track or marathon runner, or dare i say it, a top class orienteer) then you'll probably be able to grit your teeth through a period of discomfort and come out of the other side running just as strongly.
but then thats just my opinion....
'hitting the pain barrier' - isn't that when your body starts to complain through sheer physical exertion? the way you react to that situation depends upon your fitness and your pyschological toughness. if you're not fit enough or havent prepared for the race properly (e.g dehydrated due to a hangover) then even if you try to run through the pain barrier then you'll probably end up a wobbly legged wreck fairly quickly anyway. trust me, i've experience in that one. if you've trained for the inevitability of hitting the pain barrier (like a top class track or marathon runner, or dare i say it, a top class orienteer) then you'll probably be able to grit your teeth through a period of discomfort and come out of the other side running just as strongly.
but then thats just my opinion....
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bendover - addict
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Re: The Pain Barrier
Numbskull wrote:b) use the pain constructively to make you go faster
You some kind of sicko? I can't understand (not necessarily condone) attempting to ignore the body's messages about pain going on somewhere but how are you going to use it to make you go faster? You like pain or something?
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FatBoy - addict
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bendover wrote:'hitting the pain barrier' - isn't that when your body starts to complain through sheer physical exertion? the way you react to that situation depends upon your fitness and your pyschological toughness.
that's how I would describe it - in which case haven't we had a similar discussion before?? (Is tiredness all in the mind)
As for the pain thing - it depends if its something small which can easily be sorted (like the thorn), or a bit more serious, where if you were to carry on you'd have to rest it for x number of weeks. Then you'd do the sensible thing and try to minimise the amount of damage you're doing to yourself.
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distracted - addict
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Umm, pain.
In middle of WOC trials, having a really good season, look good for the team. Running to the first control, over on ankle, excrutiating pain, try to keep running, just can't (after trying for 10mins). Hobble back to pre-start.
Next day, load up on anti-inflams, pain killers etc. try to run next WOC trial. More lots of pain.
2.5 years later, 2 surgeries later, should have listened to that pain!
In middle of WOC trials, having a really good season, look good for the team. Running to the first control, over on ankle, excrutiating pain, try to keep running, just can't (after trying for 10mins). Hobble back to pre-start.
Next day, load up on anti-inflams, pain killers etc. try to run next WOC trial. More lots of pain.
2.5 years later, 2 surgeries later, should have listened to that pain!
knowledge is dangerous but so is ignorance
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Run like u stole someting - string
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From exprerience
you can get away with an awful lot when you are 15 - 21, but it comes back to haunt you in your early thirties..........
I used to twist an ankle on sunday (M18), physio mon tues , x country on wed - looking back its daft.
most importantly though dot get reliant on tape get a wobble board.
listen to you body...........
and get a decent physio.
you can get away with an awful lot when you are 15 - 21, but it comes back to haunt you in your early thirties..........
I used to twist an ankle on sunday (M18), physio mon tues , x country on wed - looking back its daft.
most importantly though dot get reliant on tape get a wobble board.
listen to you body...........
and get a decent physio.
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stodge - blue
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There is a big difference between pain and "discomfort".
Discomfort is the feeling that you can do this but you would rather not - the generalised leg ache that comes when you have gone too far too fast or the dehydrated hungover feeling or that "I just can't be bothered to run another step" feeling. Using willpower to come through discomfort is sometimes sensible provided you do not do it too often or too much.
Pain is the urgent signal that something is really wrong and it should make you stop whatever is causing it. It is possible to use willpower to run through pain, but almost always a very bad thing to do.
Either way, we are not machines. If we do mild or serious damage we have to heal. You can get away with some things when you are 20, but you wish you had not when you are 46! The aim must be to build fitness and skill to the point where you are consistently good at what you want to do - if today's victory is not to be, so be it.
Discomfort is the feeling that you can do this but you would rather not - the generalised leg ache that comes when you have gone too far too fast or the dehydrated hungover feeling or that "I just can't be bothered to run another step" feeling. Using willpower to come through discomfort is sometimes sensible provided you do not do it too often or too much.
Pain is the urgent signal that something is really wrong and it should make you stop whatever is causing it. It is possible to use willpower to run through pain, but almost always a very bad thing to do.
Either way, we are not machines. If we do mild or serious damage we have to heal. You can get away with some things when you are 20, but you wish you had not when you are 46! The aim must be to build fitness and skill to the point where you are consistently good at what you want to do - if today's victory is not to be, so be it.
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chrisecurtis - red
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bendover - addict
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Personally, i would continue at the same pace, but moan like hell for the rest of the course, use it as the excuse why i did so appalingly and not let anyone forget how hardcore i was for carring on for at least the next year.
I Wish I Was A Llama
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badger - blue
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