What do you think about when you run? When it comes to thinking on the run, runners tend to fall into one of two camps:
ASSOCIATION or DISSOCIATION. In simple terms, association means you are very much focused on the activity of the run, and dissociation means you are (possibly very consciously) allowing your mind to wander away from the actual run that you’re engaged in. This concept then sub divides into internal/external association, and internal/external dissociation.
Association
Internal association is thinking about the “within” of the run. i.e how are you feeling, is it an easy run, are you working close to maximum, is that dodgy ankle feeling OK, is the breathing good, is it a struggle today etc etc etc. External association is still about the run that you’re doing, but is about the outside factors that influence the “feel” of the run: the countryside you are immersed in, the tough hill you are working your way up, the glorious downhill mile where you open up your stride to enjoy hitting top speed for a few minutes, the strong wind that you’re battling against etc etc etc
Dissociation
Internal dissociation is also somewhat inward looking as the mind wanders to contemplate anything that may be going on in your day/week/life that is a useful distraction from the immediate effort of the run – something work related perhaps, or plans for the weekend for example. The external dissociator is probably thinking about their surroundings as they run, but is seeing them more from the perspective of an observer – maybe enjoying the view perhaps, rather than from making direct connections between the environs and the run.
If that all sounds a bit highbrow, I’ll be quick to admit that I’m absolutely no authority on the subject, but it’s something I have experience of. I fall 100% into the “associators” camp. From my earliest running days, I’ve always immersed myself into each run, whether it’s a good or bad one. My assumption is that anyone wearing earphones when running is firmly in the dissociation camp, and I seem to see many more runners wearing them in recent years. I attempted to listen to music whilst running just once, probably 30 years ago, and I simply couldn’t do it ! I’d guess this question links in with how you view the whole activity of running in the broader sense, but I’m no sports psychologist so I’ll leave it there. If you’re a runner yourself, and have managed to stick with today’s blog this far, what’s your take on the subject ? Let me know.
All the best. Kim.
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