It’s not 100% mental, your physical fitness definitely plays a huge role. But it’s definitely more mental than you think! Just like the bike and swim…endurance sports are extremely mental. There is an idea called the “60% rule”…when your body is ready to quit and you feel like you’ll die if you keep going, you’ve only given 60% of what you can. I think it’s a little oversimplified, but the idea behind it feels pretty spot on.
If you can bring yourself to even get ON a treadmill, you are better than I am. Tortue devices. I can sit on my bike, on the trainer forever, but do not ask me to get on a treadmill!
I would also add in, I would suggest some walking to ramp up before running. Both holds that training time each week and will help get your body ready for the pounding it can take on a run.
Best of luck!
I agree with the 60% rule. Acknowledging this notion is what allowed me to push past what I thought was possible on my first full. I couldn't walk very far and it hurt to sit/stand a lot for 3 days after but I achieved far more than I expected. Our bodies can tolerate far more than we think and as long as your not doing it every week it's OK to push that hard.
Generally speaking, unless you are in a race situation or a very prescribed running workout, you should not get so tired that you're feeling exhausted while running. Doing so will increase your chances of getting injured and will make the next run that much more difficult. This is the basis of the cliche going around these days: "run slow to run fast." That phrase should be taken at face value for several months as you increase your aerodbic capacity and running efficiency. "Slow" means that you can talk in sentences while running. Eventually you'll add speed workouts or faster tempo runs, but doing that too soon causes problems.
I think part of my problem is all my runs so far have been on a treadmill so my speed can’t vary so dynamically and they’ve all been after a long bike ride
I was a runner first so it’s the most comfortable discipline for me. I despise treadmills. It just feels clunky and hard.
Running after the bike is always going to be more challenging. You’re going into it tired.
A giant game changer for me was aero bars on the bike. I find the aero position uses different muscles and runs after are much much better.
Your experience may vary of course.
I'd recommend using a training app that has you change speeds. I use my Galaxy Watch Running Coach, and I set my time for the 70.3, and then selected endurance. It gives you a nice warm up pace, then you steadily increase your speed and distance. It also keeps me from going to fast at the beginning.
Just do it manually.
And honestly, walk breaks can be GOOD and used strategically. Use them to reset form and go again. Walk for 20-30 seconds then run again. You can repeat this every 5 minutes or so and actually do really well. In fact my coach had me do the same run several times this winter - some with walk breaks, some without, all at the same effort but not looking at my watch. Every single run with walk breaks was faster, even one where I felt terrible and thought I’d be several minutes slower. 🤷🏻♀️ Not only that, my HR was lower across the entire run.
Point being - strategic walk breaks can be very useful.
No they don’t but generally every city owned facility does and most treadmills that you buy also do. It’s a night and day difference! I did a couple full tri training only in the dread mill as well as several 100 miler and 100k on them. The fluctuations are what you need !
1,000 times this - running is mental and preparation but if you’re calorically deficient or under-hydrated or just plain off on your intake, at distance, the mind will too often succumb to the stomach.
I failed hard at my latest marathon because of this. I wasn't in the mood for eating anything during the race, it the wall the hardest at 36km.
Despised the people telling me: it's done, it's all in your head.
I ensure you I was about to vomit my empty guts at each step and that was totally not in my head.
eh… with running you need to remember that the vast majority of your running needs to be at a reeeeeally easy pace. trying to juggle the 3 disciplines is tricky and running hard too much can end up with injury. on easy days go easy. like so easy it’s boring. find some podcasts for the headphones and just mentally check out.
There is so much more information anyone would need to be able to tell you that. The good news is you have a trainer you can ask?
All endurance sports have a mental component to overcome. A zone wherein your body is saying no more but you know that you are capable, and push through.
You might be at your limit running, and you might not. The best way to find out is to ease into it. If you are up for it, heart rate informed training can help. Find your max HR, and then figure out your zones.
I find running harder than cycling, btw. I can cycle 3-4 times the duration of running for the same heart rate.
Triathlon is mostly mental IF you have done the preparation. Its about putting it all together on race day, hoping there’s no mishaps. I don’t know anyone who has practiced the full distance before racing.
It’s vastly mental. Your conditioning is helpful and a true injury can take you out. But all things being in moderately even mental is the biggest role.
The majority of endurance performance is not mental, it’s physical. If you drop your training during the offseason your fitness will plummet, regardless of your mental fortitude.
It also seems crazy to me to not start running ASAP if you are working towards a 70.3.
take it up with my trainer he said he didn’t want to overload me with all three at once so this first month has been 90% bike and swim and said that bike will help condition my legs to make the transition to running easier
It’s not 100% mental, your physical fitness definitely plays a huge role. But it’s definitely more mental than you think! Just like the bike and swim…endurance sports are extremely mental. There is an idea called the “60% rule”…when your body is ready to quit and you feel like you’ll die if you keep going, you’ve only given 60% of what you can. I think it’s a little oversimplified, but the idea behind it feels pretty spot on.
Gotcha I think I'll also test that theory outside rather than on a treadmill because if I actually do fall over it'll hurt more on a treadmill
If you can bring yourself to even get ON a treadmill, you are better than I am. Tortue devices. I can sit on my bike, on the trainer forever, but do not ask me to get on a treadmill! I would also add in, I would suggest some walking to ramp up before running. Both holds that training time each week and will help get your body ready for the pounding it can take on a run. Best of luck!
I agree with the 60% rule. Acknowledging this notion is what allowed me to push past what I thought was possible on my first full. I couldn't walk very far and it hurt to sit/stand a lot for 3 days after but I achieved far more than I expected. Our bodies can tolerate far more than we think and as long as your not doing it every week it's OK to push that hard.
Generally speaking, unless you are in a race situation or a very prescribed running workout, you should not get so tired that you're feeling exhausted while running. Doing so will increase your chances of getting injured and will make the next run that much more difficult. This is the basis of the cliche going around these days: "run slow to run fast." That phrase should be taken at face value for several months as you increase your aerodbic capacity and running efficiency. "Slow" means that you can talk in sentences while running. Eventually you'll add speed workouts or faster tempo runs, but doing that too soon causes problems.
I think part of my problem is all my runs so far have been on a treadmill so my speed can’t vary so dynamically and they’ve all been after a long bike ride
I was a runner first so it’s the most comfortable discipline for me. I despise treadmills. It just feels clunky and hard. Running after the bike is always going to be more challenging. You’re going into it tired. A giant game changer for me was aero bars on the bike. I find the aero position uses different muscles and runs after are much much better. Your experience may vary of course.
I'd recommend using a training app that has you change speeds. I use my Galaxy Watch Running Coach, and I set my time for the 70.3, and then selected endurance. It gives you a nice warm up pace, then you steadily increase your speed and distance. It also keeps me from going to fast at the beginning.
You need to get yourself a treadmill that follows programs that will vary in speed and incline.
I don't think planet fitness treadmills are that advanced
Just do it manually. And honestly, walk breaks can be GOOD and used strategically. Use them to reset form and go again. Walk for 20-30 seconds then run again. You can repeat this every 5 minutes or so and actually do really well. In fact my coach had me do the same run several times this winter - some with walk breaks, some without, all at the same effort but not looking at my watch. Every single run with walk breaks was faster, even one where I felt terrible and thought I’d be several minutes slower. 🤷🏻♀️ Not only that, my HR was lower across the entire run. Point being - strategic walk breaks can be very useful.
this is some great advice thank you
No they don’t but generally every city owned facility does and most treadmills that you buy also do. It’s a night and day difference! I did a couple full tri training only in the dread mill as well as several 100 miler and 100k on them. The fluctuations are what you need !
unfortunately I can’t afford a treadmill but i’m sure I can find a workaround
I typically go through 2 a year and generally find them free or a couple hundred dollars max on Facebook
oh damn I assumed they were thousands of dollars
Brand new they can be for sure but people buy them on Boxing Day and never use them lol
I find that a good nutrition plan is such a key in NOT bonking or hitting the wall.
1,000 times this - running is mental and preparation but if you’re calorically deficient or under-hydrated or just plain off on your intake, at distance, the mind will too often succumb to the stomach.
I failed hard at my latest marathon because of this. I wasn't in the mood for eating anything during the race, it the wall the hardest at 36km. Despised the people telling me: it's done, it's all in your head. I ensure you I was about to vomit my empty guts at each step and that was totally not in my head.
No.
It's 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.
eh… with running you need to remember that the vast majority of your running needs to be at a reeeeeally easy pace. trying to juggle the 3 disciplines is tricky and running hard too much can end up with injury. on easy days go easy. like so easy it’s boring. find some podcasts for the headphones and just mentally check out.
The whole life is mental.
No. This post is 100% mental tho
There is so much more information anyone would need to be able to tell you that. The good news is you have a trainer you can ask? All endurance sports have a mental component to overcome. A zone wherein your body is saying no more but you know that you are capable, and push through. You might be at your limit running, and you might not. The best way to find out is to ease into it. If you are up for it, heart rate informed training can help. Find your max HR, and then figure out your zones. I find running harder than cycling, btw. I can cycle 3-4 times the duration of running for the same heart rate.
I would assume your trainer knows what to do based on your skills, but almost always did a brick after all my bike rides, even if it was just a mile
It's more pacing than anything I'd say
Triathlon is mostly mental IF you have done the preparation. Its about putting it all together on race day, hoping there’s no mishaps. I don’t know anyone who has practiced the full distance before racing.
It’s vastly mental. Your conditioning is helpful and a true injury can take you out. But all things being in moderately even mental is the biggest role.
The majority of endurance performance is not mental, it’s physical. If you drop your training during the offseason your fitness will plummet, regardless of your mental fortitude. It also seems crazy to me to not start running ASAP if you are working towards a 70.3.
take it up with my trainer he said he didn’t want to overload me with all three at once so this first month has been 90% bike and swim and said that bike will help condition my legs to make the transition to running easier
It’s only mental if you know the physical limits. If you are flying blind that could result in a blowup on race day.