"The Legs Are Feelin' Good"
"The secret ingredient to secret ingredient soup is....nothing."
This phrase in Kung Fu Panda nearly broke Po's mind. There wasn't a secret all along? His secret was...believing? This whole time just thinking he had all the moves...could give him all the moves???
Click here if video doesn't play
Several months ago, writer at sports illustrated and founder of the world famous online magazine "citiusmag" (Follow them @citiusmag) Chris Chavez began using the phrase "The Legs are Feelin' Good."
His instagram was soon filled with other runners, some professionals, shouting the phrase mid-run or recording it in their post run wrap-up. As you can imagine, this beautiful phrase is one of many answers to the question, "How're the legs feelin'? All across the world runners are proclaiming things like "Just finished up 15x30sec hills and the #LegsAreFeelinGood." Naturally, I participated a couple times over social media and purchased a mug the day they became available.
This is all fun, but what caused this monumental movement to begin? Why do runners everywhere love it? What does it mean? Do their legs actually feel good after a 15 mile long run?
When I slid the DMs and asked the man himself, Chris Chavez, he responded "Its a mantra for all runners. When the going gets tough or when you're flying, just tell yourself the phrase and things get better. Its the art of self talk and positive reinforcement at its finest. Your legs don't actually have to be feeling well in the moment. Its a mindset!"
A mindset..."The legs are feeling good" is much more than a funny phrase runners relate to, it is a secret weapon. A powerful mantra that can distract us from the daily grind. One that assists us in getting through some of the hardest parts of this sport we love. The truth is "The legs are feelin' good" is a lie, but it is a strategic lie. It is a helpful lie. It is a lie that can help you get through the depths of difficult training and racing.
Difficult training manifests itself in the first steps in the morning, walking in between classes, stretching during warm ups. You feel the ache of the previous days run and examine it closely. You ponder the question..."How am I feeling today, how're the legs?" Often times, if you're honest, they're dead tired, tight, and swollen. It is overwhelming to ponder all day about how you might not have enough gas in the tank to practice. That thought is draining and can wear you down. Soon practice is anxiety inducing rather than fun, and soon our mission of greater fitness through hard training, disappears. If you've ever fallen into this pattern in the slightest you're not alone, but this is not the truth, or what we coaches would like you to feel during a season.
As your coach I would wonder for you, can using this strategic, "Legs are feelin' Good" lie, help? If we are already believing in the slightest the lie that we're too tired, we can't do this, something must be wrong...why not believe the lie instead that...the legs are feelin' good?
The truth is, and I 100% believe this, we're almost always a few naps, good meals, and fun times with friends away from recovered! So, why not believe that our outcomes will be great? That we can reach our goals?
The special ingredient in "special ingredient soup" was...nothing. Po was able to do all of the kung Fu moves because he believed, for some reason, he could. If I were you I would do the same. We train hard right? We train to compete well right? Why not imagine yourself doing well then? Tell yourself where you'd like to be in the race, and put yourself there. Tell yourself you'd like to finish hard the last 1/2 mile, then go for it! Tell yourself to give it all...brain, body, and heart. When the pain comes in, proclaim to yourself that the 'legs are feelin' good' all the way to the finish.
The truth is, putting time into thinking negatively about your racing and training will not help, but believing in yourself will.
So, when you ponder how your race might go, or if you can complete a workout on pace, or if you can achieve your big hairy audacious goal, you might say to yourself "the legs are feelin' good" and just go for it. Full sends only. Focus and give everything your body has on the day. Assume the best for yourself.
(Imaginary toast with Gatorade or hot cider)
So, this is it, full permission to send it without fear, give it all, fight through the pain, and come out on the other side satisfied that you fought with everything! Raise your glass, here's to believing!
-Coach W
This phrase in Kung Fu Panda nearly broke Po's mind. There wasn't a secret all along? His secret was...believing? This whole time just thinking he had all the moves...could give him all the moves???
Click here if video doesn't play
Several months ago, writer at sports illustrated and founder of the world famous online magazine "citiusmag" (Follow them @citiusmag) Chris Chavez began using the phrase "The Legs are Feelin' Good."
His instagram was soon filled with other runners, some professionals, shouting the phrase mid-run or recording it in their post run wrap-up. As you can imagine, this beautiful phrase is one of many answers to the question, "How're the legs feelin'? All across the world runners are proclaiming things like "Just finished up 15x30sec hills and the #LegsAreFeelinGood." Naturally, I participated a couple times over social media and purchased a mug the day they became available.
This is all fun, but what caused this monumental movement to begin? Why do runners everywhere love it? What does it mean? Do their legs actually feel good after a 15 mile long run?
When I slid the DMs and asked the man himself, Chris Chavez, he responded "Its a mantra for all runners. When the going gets tough or when you're flying, just tell yourself the phrase and things get better. Its the art of self talk and positive reinforcement at its finest. Your legs don't actually have to be feeling well in the moment. Its a mindset!"
A mindset..."The legs are feeling good" is much more than a funny phrase runners relate to, it is a secret weapon. A powerful mantra that can distract us from the daily grind. One that assists us in getting through some of the hardest parts of this sport we love. The truth is "The legs are feelin' good" is a lie, but it is a strategic lie. It is a helpful lie. It is a lie that can help you get through the depths of difficult training and racing.
Difficult training manifests itself in the first steps in the morning, walking in between classes, stretching during warm ups. You feel the ache of the previous days run and examine it closely. You ponder the question..."How am I feeling today, how're the legs?" Often times, if you're honest, they're dead tired, tight, and swollen. It is overwhelming to ponder all day about how you might not have enough gas in the tank to practice. That thought is draining and can wear you down. Soon practice is anxiety inducing rather than fun, and soon our mission of greater fitness through hard training, disappears. If you've ever fallen into this pattern in the slightest you're not alone, but this is not the truth, or what we coaches would like you to feel during a season.
As your coach I would wonder for you, can using this strategic, "Legs are feelin' Good" lie, help? If we are already believing in the slightest the lie that we're too tired, we can't do this, something must be wrong...why not believe the lie instead that...the legs are feelin' good?
The truth is, and I 100% believe this, we're almost always a few naps, good meals, and fun times with friends away from recovered! So, why not believe that our outcomes will be great? That we can reach our goals?
The special ingredient in "special ingredient soup" was...nothing. Po was able to do all of the kung Fu moves because he believed, for some reason, he could. If I were you I would do the same. We train hard right? We train to compete well right? Why not imagine yourself doing well then? Tell yourself where you'd like to be in the race, and put yourself there. Tell yourself you'd like to finish hard the last 1/2 mile, then go for it! Tell yourself to give it all...brain, body, and heart. When the pain comes in, proclaim to yourself that the 'legs are feelin' good' all the way to the finish.
The truth is, putting time into thinking negatively about your racing and training will not help, but believing in yourself will.
So, when you ponder how your race might go, or if you can complete a workout on pace, or if you can achieve your big hairy audacious goal, you might say to yourself "the legs are feelin' good" and just go for it. Full sends only. Focus and give everything your body has on the day. Assume the best for yourself.
(Imaginary toast with Gatorade or hot cider)
So, this is it, full permission to send it without fear, give it all, fight through the pain, and come out on the other side satisfied that you fought with everything! Raise your glass, here's to believing!
-Coach W
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