The Pain Barrier

You have meticulously planned out a running route that is exactly three miles and you have told yourself that you are going to run the entire three miles without stopping, no matter what. After the second mile a large pain in your side becomes apparent, your breathing is getting shorter, and your mind and body are begging you to start walking. This is the point in the run that becomes a mental game. Every decision of pace, breathing rate, and stride that has been made on the run thus far has lead you to this point and all you can think about is stopping. Welcome to the pain barrier.

The pain barrier is the point of most discomfort in any activity whether it be physically or mentally. The mental discipline and training it takes to push past this barrier varies for every individual. The secret in pushing past the pain barrier consists of disrupted visualization and self motivation. Letting yourself be bothered by the current situation is not an option at this point and must be refocused. As you are approaching the pain barrier do not change your stride, breathing, or pace, but keep pushing and visualize the end goal. If I am running in the city, I like to imagine that I am running alone on a hiking trail through creeks and over bridges. This type of visualization is a distraction from the current pain and will refocus your body and eventually push past the pain barrier.

As your body maintains pace, the pain will disappear and the goal will be reached, and a larger one will be set for the next day. As you run and begin to feel pain or feel that you cannot go any further, just remember that the greatest achievements are not easily attained and require many barriers to be broken down, not by stopping at each one and turning around.

"Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow"
-Doug Firebaugh

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