| Author |
Topic: Are you an associative or disassociative runner? |
pdstein
Member |
 posted Aug-23-2007 09:23 AM
  
I’m up to chapter 11 in The Non-Runners Marathon Trainer. It describes associative and disassociative mental techniques. Associative techniques are things you do to try to maintain focus on your running such as focusing on your breathing, your stride, your arm position, the feelings in your legs and feet, and so forth. Disassociative techniques are things you to do to try to take your mind off running like listening to music, praying, and imagining your somewhere else. The book encourages an associative approach, but ultimately it’s something you have to experiment with and choose for yourself.I’ve always been a disassociative runner even before I started marathon training. But this morning I decided to run without headphones for the first time in my training and try to focus on what my body was doing during the run. It was interesting at first but after a while my mind started drifting and eventually I ended up intentionally disassociating for minutes at a time. Maybe that’s what will work for me - disassociative for a few minutes and then periodically checking back in to see how my body’s doing It’s something I’m going to continue to experiment with. I’d be curious to hear from other runners – Are you an associative or disassociative runner? Or if you’re both how much of each? - Paul ------------------
Training for my first marathon
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carlahale
Member |
posted Aug-23-2007 09:27 AM
I am definitely a mix of both. About every 3-5 minutes, I think about my body and check on what its doing. But most of the time I think about something else - ranging from what I need to do at home, shopping, my fiance. All these things help me to pass the time. Before you know it's been 15 minutes! Then I'll have to check back on my pace, stride, etc.
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fredurie
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 09:27 AM
Associative on the speed days.
Disassociative on the recovery days.
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gale813
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 09:33 AM
I'm definately both.------------------
Running sober, one step at a time!!!My Profile
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OnlyWhnChasd
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 09:44 AM
I would be surprised if most people didn't chime in that they were a bit of each. Like fredurie, on speed days I'm definately associative--very focused, very conscious of what's going on with my body, my breathing, HR, etc. On recovery days I'm far more disassociative since I'm really just plugging in the miles and working out the kinks. I'd break it down further though by saying that most of my regular long runs start out disassociative and end up associative. At the start of a 20+ miler, my mind is all over the place daydreaming about this and that. Towards the end though I become much more focused on keeping my form correct and my breathing even. I assess my discomfort level and zero in on any abnormal aches and pains. The last mile, it's all about gathering up the wounded masses (more poor abused muscles) and charging them toward the finish line.
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saviorfaire
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 10:10 AM
I think of having sex with my girl friend... LOL, just kidding.Mmmm... interesting question. Since I am now doing LHR training, my focus is keeping the heart rate within range on my monitor.
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HenvY
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 11:20 AM
I don't know! I guess i'm a blank-mind runner.
I do listen to my mp3 player though, although I don't really listen that much. I use the uptempo stuff to make sure i'm keeping my stride long.
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Hikerchick8
Member |
posted Aug-23-2007 11:39 AM
I'm still new to running but I'd say I'm both. I do time my steps with my breathing, pay close attention to my body to make sure I've got good form, my shoulders don't hike up to my ears, etc. But I also picture myself somewhere else. Hiking up a steep hill into a beautiful meadow surrounded by views of snow capped peaks. Walking around a gorgeous jade-colored alpine lake. That sort of thing. So I guess I'm both! I'd like to be a disassociative runner though - I wish I could tune out & just run. I wonder if I could run further that way! 
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merpy
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 12:38 PM
Both happen to me, but I generally aim for dissociative because it makes time go faster. I figure checking on breathing, legs, etc. every once in a while is good enough. Why does the book encourage associative running? Does it encourage it non-stop through a run? That sounds pretty boring to me. ------------------
meet merpy
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ToddDubya
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 02:32 PM
Yes.I don't know how possible it is for mortals to be fully aware of everything throughout an entire run. I think I disassociate fairly easily, but at the same time I'm always paying attention to what's going on with my body. The slightest twinge and I'm right back into diagnostic mode. -Todd ------------------
-Todd
Check Me Out
There's plenty of time for rest when you're dead.
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pdstein
Member |
posted Aug-23-2007 02:49 PM
quote:
Originally posted by merpy:
Both happen to me, but I generally aim for dissociative because it makes time go faster. I figure checking on breathing, legs, etc. every once in a while is good enough. Why does the book encourage associative running? Does it encourage it non-stop through a run? That sounds pretty boring to me.
Two reasons. First, the authors think you ought to enjoy running. If you disassociate, then time goes by quickly and you kind of miss what might be one of the highlights of your day. Second, the mental part of marathon training is at least as important as the physical part. If you disassociate you are basically blowing off the mental training. The book encourages you to fully feel what's going on in your body including any pain, fatigue, and discomfort and train your mind to embrace those feelings rather than ignore or fight them. But personally, I'm with you. I often find running to be boring unless I'm thinking about something else even if it's just the scenery.
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Training for my first marathon
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gailsev
Member |
posted Aug-23-2007 03:06 PM
Associative when running becomes hard (i.e. increasing speed or running up hills). Most other times my mind wanders or I say mantras in my head.I stopped running with head phones, because I can't always hear the traffic.
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lyric12
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 03:07 PM
I think like the majority of the runners who have responded on this thread - I am a little of both. I often take my mp3 player which doubles as a radio on my morning runs. If I don't listen to music, which is 65 percent of the time, I listen to NPR and catch up on all that is going on in the world...
Other times I will think of story ideas for my job, things to be done during the day, or simply let my mind drift.... simultaneously I am usually thinking about any difference I notice in my gate etc...
good luck and happy trails
-S
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iLoveNature
Member |
posted Aug-23-2007 03:50 PM
quote:
Originally posted by gailsev:
Associative when running becomes hard (i.e. increasing speed or running up hills). Most other times my mind wanders or I say mantras in my head.I stopped running with head phones, because I can't always hear the traffic.
I was thinking of what I was going to say while reading the posts but gailsev summed it up rather nicely for me.
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aerialist
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-23-2007 04:02 PM
The first 1/4 mile I'm paying close attention to my form, stride, and overall condition, but beyond that it's all mental nothingness--work ideas, looking for deer (and often saying hello to them!), deep inhalations of the nice plants, breath-holding when the river gets stinky, admiring the shirtless fit men who run in the opposite direction.... you get the idea.When the pain kicks in, or when I'm tired, I try to avoid being too associative and instead do a quick diagnostic check (is the pain dangerously bad or just sore? etc) before changing my stride. Of course, it's a luxury I have to disassociate so much: I run on a converted rail-trail with no danger of cars, on paved asphalt.
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pdstein
Member |
posted Aug-26-2007 11:27 AM
quote:
Originally posted by OnlyWhnChasd:
I would be surprised if most people didn't chime in that they were a bit of each.
Yeah, it seems like everyone is a bit of each. I guess the question is how much of each. If I had to guess, I would say I'm probably 25% associative, 75% disassociative.
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Training for my first marathon
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RoxannaMathis
Cool Runner |
posted Aug-26-2007 05:37 PM
Associative for me definately......not sure why.....but I always think about the run and my form and my breathing.....hehe------------------
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