Another performance trick during competitions is association, the act of concentrating intensely on the very act of running or cycling, or whatever your sport i

Another performance trick during competitions is association, the act of concentrating intensely on the very act of running or cycling, or whatever your sport is Oh cool! I've always told friends that if you can listen to music or talk, you're not running fast enough. It's for this reason that I can't ever go out for just a "jog" unless I really need to recover... when you get in that zone you're like an antsy racehorse wanting to shoot out of the gate. The desire is just to go as fast as possible. I love that part of the run though, where it's your mind against your body. You keep repeating to yourself that you can make it... each step closer to the goal. Your body wants to quit, but each step boosts your confidence. It gives you that runner's high. For me, running is always about that focused relaxation. As the pain increases, you must focus yourself to continue to exert as much energy as possible in a relaxed and fluid manner.