How powerful is the running mind?

Why the mind-muscle connection matters when running

Dec 12, 2023

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The connection between body and mind is an undeniable phenomenon. When working together they can achieve unbelievable things… but what happens when they aren’t fully in sync?

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I started working with Tom on my running form after the summer of 2023. After asking myself a lot of questions, I was faced with an uncomfortable truth – I didn’t have all the answers.

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A new running challenge: feeling the mind-muscle connection

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I have been running for years. I know how to strategize a race. I know when to push hard and sometimes (but not always) I know when to pull back.
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Female athlete running on a track in dubai — Understanding the mind-muscle connection can help you become a better runner.

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I’ve studied countless videos and photos of myself running. I know exactly what it looks like: my right foot is off at an angle; my left arm crosses my body more than my right arm does and my heels rarely touch the ground.

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I’m not unaware of what’s happening when I’m running, I just hadn’t been feeling it.

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During a drill in my first run form session, Tom surprised me with a simple question: “How did that movement feel when you placed your foot here instead of there?”

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The blank look I have him was perhaps all the feedback he needed. I honestly had no idea; I simply wasn’t connecting my mind and body at all.

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Progress is never linear

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I still go through entire runs where my mind wanders or I chat away to others, and any thoughts about my form goes out of the window. But I have learnt to cue myself and take on more cues from others.

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I now feel the left side of my core as I run the bend at track, I relax my shoulder when I get tired, I create impact on the floor with meaning to propel myself up and forward, and (when I remember) I check to see how straight my foot is when I walk.

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Running for numbers on a clock or simply for my own mental health has always been on the easier side for me. My journey forging a stronger mind-body connection when I run has become a new challenge – and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.

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Fun - Honesty - Simplicity - Smash Life - MENTAL TOUGHNESS - Hard Work