Relaxation And Running - Easy Does It

Relaxation is the key to entering the effortless zone, and stress is the deadbolt that locks you out. When you're stressed, your muscles tighten and your mind muddles.

That's why work, relationship woes, and other problems should be left at your doorstep. If these thoughts come meandering back into your head later in the run, fine. Initially, though, try to flush them out.

"Stress can increase fatigue and muscle tension," says Jeffrey Martin, Ph.D. "You don't breathe as deeply when you're stressed, which increases the effort of running." The Wayne State University (Mich.) sports psychology professor and former World Cup marathoner adds that athletes under stress, according to studies, get sick and injured at a higher rate than lower-stressed athletes.

It may not be possible to run away from a "major stressor" such as a job change or divorce, but you can make your runs a mental escape from lesser irritants such as arguments, traffic jams, and computer malfunctions. Inadequate sleep can also elevate stress levels, so try to get your nightly 7 to 8 hours.

Some days, when you're lucky, running feels like floating. Here are 10 ways to get that feeling more often.

Don't Expect So Much
Burdening your runs with outside stresses is bad enough, but it's even worse to stress about your running. Goals are great, but too rigid expectations can sour your enthusiasm and prevent you from entering the effortless zone.

Don't expect to break 50 minutes, for example, on a particular training run or in a 10-K race. Your on-the-run anxiety about doing it will actually reduce the odds that it'll happen. Instead, settle on a broader goal, such as finishing somewhere between 48 and 52 minutes. You'll be more likely to succeed. And even if you fall outside the range, adopt the attitude that you gave it your best effort. That's all you can do.

Says Martin: "Setting a narrow goal is like painting yourself into a corner, because so many factors affect performance: pacing, weather, course difficulty, stress, and so on. Sometimes you just have a bad day. You need to acknowledge that you won't always run fast, race well, or improve your time."

Strengthen Your Core
A strong "core"--which includes your lower back, abdominal, and hip muscles--makes it easier to maintain good, upright, effortless running form. "When runners with weak cores get tired, they start leaning too far forward," says Janet Hamilton, an Atlanta-area running coach, exercise physiologist, and author of Running Strong & Injury-Free. "That's biomechanically inefficient, and will even limit your lung capacity."

Like many coaches, Hamilton considers core strength to be essential. "It ensures an efficient transfer of power from the core to the legs and upper body," she explains. She recommends taking a yoga or Pilates class, or doing the following gym exercises at least twice a week--but not on long or hard running days. (If possible, have a personal trainer demonstrate correct form.)

This one goes against the grain for lots of runners who believe that when their running isn't going right, it's because they're not running enough. Could be just the opposite. Remember, effortless running can only happen when your legs are fresh, and that requires regular rest. If your legs feel tired or sore fairly often, running fewer days per week could be just the ticket. For example, Runner's World columnist Jeff Galloway suggests that runners over 40 run only 4 days a week, runners over 50 run every other day, and runners over 60 run 3 days a week.

"Without sufficient recovery," adds Hamilton, "you'll be fatigued and generally more prone to injury. Your glycogen stores need to be resupplied, and your muscles and tendons repaired. If you're still fatigued after a day or 2 off, take a clean break from running for a week or even more. Keep active with walking, biking, swimming, or other low-impact activities."

Besides taking occasional days and weeks off, here are other ways to put the spring back in your step:

Any mechanic will tell you to warm up your engine with an easy idle before driving anywhere. The body's engine works the same way. Yet we're often too rushed to warm up. We lace up our shoes and go. That's a mistake, because a rushed start makes it unlikely you'll reach the effortless zone on that run.

"You need to gradually increase your heart rate and core temperature while warming up your muscles," says Norm Witek, an exercise science professor and coach at North Carolina's Brevard College. "Otherwise, you're going to go into mild oxygen debt, strain your muscle fibers, and end up with sore legs."

Start each run by walking for a minute or 2, then jogging. Barely clear the ground at first, then start lifting your knees higher and lengthening your stride as you cover the first mile. On morning runs, when your body takes longer to wake up, this gradual acceleration may continue for more than a mile. But within 10 to 15 minutes, your body should be ready for effortless running.

Add speed to run effortlessly? That's right. Regular doses of fast running will make the rest of your running seem comfortable in comparison, both mentally and physically.

"When you add occasional fast running to your program, this increases muscle enzyme activity, which allows you to access energy more efficiently any time you run," says Robyn Stuhr, an exercise physiologist at the Women's Sports Medicine Center in New York City. "It also enhances neuromuscular function, raises your lactate threshold, and on slower runs, delays the onset of fatigue." Regular speed training will also make your races seem easier because you'll be accustomed to the faster pace.

There are several ways to inject speed into your schedule besides killer track workouts (though those are effective as well). Here are a few examples:

Just as fast running makes your standard pace easier, long runs make your regular distance seem shorter--thus easier. By pushing the pace on some days, and lengthening the distance on others, you'll be able to cruise in the effortless zone on the rest of your runs.

"Long runs train the body to use fat, so you don't have to rely as much on carbohydrates for energy," says Stuhr. "Long runs also increase the number of capillaries, the vessels that deliver oxygen to muscle cells and mitochondria, the structures inside the cells that convert that oxygen into energy. The result is a richer supply of blood providing energy to your muscles."

Psychological barriers also tumble when you go long. A big reason for the 98-percent finish rate among Jeff Galloway Marathon Training Program participants is that they go the full 26-mile distance in training. This works for shorter races as well. Prepare for a half-marathon or even a 10-K by running (or exceeding) the race distance at least a couple of times in training to boost your endurance and confidence. Nice side effect: More of your regular training runs will be in the effortless zone.

It's hardly effortless to sweat through a run in 90-degree heat on smog-choked streets, or to negotiate an icy sidewalk in a snowstorm. Sure, you can run in any weather, but unlike the mail carrier, you don't have to. The best way to enter the zone during adverse outdoor conditions is to head indoors, where the weather and surface are controlled.

"Once you set a treadmill on your desired speed, the machine does the work of setting the pace," notes Sara Wells, winner of the U.S. 2003 Women's Marathon National Championship. "You can shut your mind off and just run. It's also less impact on your legs compared with running on asphalt, and safer than outdoor running at night." Wells did most of her afternoon runs on a treadmill last winter, including several 20-milers.

Here's how to make treadmill running more effortless:

Feeling full, empty, or nauseous will keep you out of the effortless zone, so you can't afford to eat the wrong foods at the wrong time. Be sure to follow these guidelines:

Having a carbohydrate snack in the last 2 hours before a run is critical. "Besides being easily digestible, complex carbohydrates maintain your blood sugar to keep your energy level up," says Lisa Dorfman, M.S., R.D., a marathoner and author of The Vegetarian Sports Nutrition Guide. "The best choices are low-fiber and lactose-free, to prevent intestinal problems." Examples: bananas, energy bars, bagels, pretzels, rice cakes, and sports drinks.

"Water aids in the functioning of every muscle and cell, so inadequate fluids can make you sore, weak, and tired," says Dorfman. "Even a 2-percent reduction in your total body fluid will increase your effort level during running." Therefore, no possibility of effortless running.

When you run on a hot, humid day, you sweat up to 2 liters or more per hour. To keep yourself fully hydrated, try to consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables (for their water content); 1 liter of fluid; and 1 additional pint of fluid for each pound you lose on the run. (Determine this by weighing yourself immediately before and after a run.)

On runs lasting more than an hour, either take fluids with you, or stash sports drinks along the way. Aim to take in an average of at least 5 ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes.

To enter the effortless zone of running, relaxation is essential. Here are five tips to help you relax, courtesy of sports psychologist Jeffrey Martin, Ph.D.:
1. Look for social distraction. Run with a friend or two, and your stress level will plunge in the first mile of conversation.
2. Look for environmental distraction. Run a woodsy trail, a quiet urban street, an interesting neighborhood, or any place where there's a lot to see.
3. Ditch the gadgets. Try running unfettered and unplugged. Leave behind everything that beeps, buzzes, or blares--the watch, the heart-rate monitor, the headphones. (Hang on to your cell phone though; it could come in handy if you run into trouble.)
4. Don't rush. If you cram a run into your schedule, you'll probably skip the warmup and worry about finishing the run before the next obligation. Schedule runs when you have a comfortable cushion of time.
5. Calm race jitters. To harness the nervous energy you feel before a race: