One of my all-time favorite etymologies comes from the Latin root for the word strive, translating to “be in rivalry with” or more favorably, “to strive in common; strive after something in company with or together.”
现在，大多数情况下，我们可以更简单地将其煮沸，一起努力。鉴于当今情况的独特性，我们的全球装备磨碎了，包括大多数，如果不是所有与耐力赛有关的事物，都被推迟或取消，我们共同发现自己在跑步的追求中寻求新的有意义的机会。我想不出比虚拟竞赛系列更好的事情，可以为我们提供持续的机会共同努力。但是在我们走得太远之前virtual medal chasing，您可能需要考虑一些重要的心理学，因为个人计时试验将与活跃的种族体验不同。毕竟，在一个有组织的活动中，追逐自己的个人荣耀与在一个主要的大都市地区坠毁，与成千上万的最亲密的朋友坠落一样。
Shifting The Subjective
一项适当定时的研究努力的感知运行一个10公里计时赛在一个有组织的种族、versus a solo time-trial, was recently published and subsequently covered byAlex Hutchinson. Please note that the study is not without limitations mind you, only a total of 14 runners, all of which were male.
The study showed that on average, runners were 58 seconds faster when racing head-to-head compared to their stand-alone time trial effort. One detail of interest was that the perception of exertion was largely the same for both races, however, the subjective feelings were judged as far more negative as the solo race progressed. Although the data is limited, it appears that we’re more likely to judge experiences as ‘bad’ when we are pushing ourselves in a race-like fashion without a race-like atmosphere.
为什么感觉更难？
Without other runners to target, chase down, or compete against, and without the overall atmosphere of race day spectators and crowd support, a virtual race is going to change HOW you focus and WHAT you focus on (two key ingredients in the psychology of sport).
A solo venture is likely going to offer a heightened awareness of the physical sensations you experience. Without a race’s pomp and circumstance to draw your attention externally, these physical sensations (probably of mounting discomfort, fatigue, or exhaustion) are much more likely going to be appraised with negatively than when they occur on a racecourse. After all, when these mounting feelings of discomfort encroach at the end of an en-vivant race, we tend to find a deep well of internal resources to keep going. Not only because we expect these physical experiences when we tack a bib to our front, but because we’re also prepared with a variety of focal points to shift our attention (the next mile marker, the next aid station, family or friends waiting around the corner etc). And most important of all, we tend to have a higher likelihood of positive judgment as the mounting discomfort tips us towards either continued effort or slowing down. When it’s just you vs. you, this experience can feel and be internally appraised quite differently.
Go Harder or Go Faster
One of the age-old debates in endurance performance psychology is the mental approach to going harder or going faster. The latter almost always heightens our focus on metrics and watch checking. When we try to run fast, we almost always base that effort on paces we see on our watch.
不要误会我的意思，这可以起作用，但是它也可能适得其反，并产生无助的焦虑和压力。我们每个人都建立了关于我们的跑步数字的叙述和个人依恋。关于数字的精神叙事和内部解释比数字本身提供了更大的力量，如果我们试图快速运行，我们可能会被过度检查我们的手表指标的陷阱，而不是利用我们的努力的感觉。当我们通过锁定更加努力来维持高水平的努力时，我们几乎总是表现更好。
It All Comes Down To…
Perception. Perception. Perception. The two biggest takeaways funnel back to largely the same concept – our perception significantly impacts our decision making and our ability to maintain pace, speed up, or slow down. And this perception is going to be exploited and slanted towards more negative appraisals when pushing hard alone.
Prepare before a virtual race even begins witha back pocket of positivityfor those tough moments. Remember that a virtual race is a great opportunity to test yourself on maintaining a high effort level rather than over-focusing on hitting specific time splits. This will lead to a more satisfying performance and overall increased enjoyment and become a worthwhile component of psychological skill development that you can carry with you into your next en-vivant race.
