MSD Strategy for my running

It is said that I normally talk more than I run- which is true most of the times, particularly now that many of my friends from PCMC runners club are bored of listening to my theories and speeches.

However there is an analogy that I wish to share and hence writing this blog.

I have learnt a lot from the way MS Dhoni plays and imbibed those features into my running – atleast the mental aspects of it.

To start with physical conditioning and eating habits, whether Cricket or Running, has to be addressed in the manner demanded by sport.

However it is the mental side of it where I wish to draw a parallel with the way MS starts, paces and finishes his innings, particularly in a chase. It is almost objective and calculated to the core- but is still so subjective that probability theories go for a toss.

He starts by assessing the conditions – pitch and weather, and also the match situation. He then draws couple of revised targets and a minimum below which he wouldn’t settle for.

After that he just stays in the chase, waiting for a false move by the opposition. He reads the game well in terms of field placings and which bowlers would be bowling the death overs. He also makes a quick math on which bowlers need to be targeted at what stage of the game.

Having done the above, he almost goes into a defensive mode with just enough runs being made to stay afloat. Many a time, the game just brought to a standstill with not much happening and all players the opposition are in “auto mode”.

He then, bides his time, and at an appropriate opportunity, which may be introduction of a particular bowler or a match situation, shifts gears. He backs his ability to do so and brings it down to 2 players – the bowler and himself. The other 10 players are removed out of the equation almost.

It then becomes – a who blinks first – situation and this puts tremendous pressure on the bowler who may then make a mistake for MS to capitalize on.

Drawing a parallel now –

Whatever may be our training and preparedness, we must assess the situation on the particular day and decide our comfortable pace of running.

Then, as it happens with me, when I am into 8 k, I normally feel like quitting – here is where I need to stay in the chase and not quit.

I need to assess 3 possible options on the probable finish time or distance and make a reasonable option below which I would not settle for. This baseline option is required so that we are competitive at the very least, else there would be no targets and hence no improvements.

After that I need to decide when I want to start pushing the time or at what stage in the run, I need to pull out those extra strides that my physical conditioning would allow me to do. I need to remember I have limited ammunition of that kind and need to use it wisely.

One that point is decided, I need to go into “auto pilot” mode with running at a comfortable aerobic pace, just good enough to stay in the chase or even may be lag behind a little from the asking run rate. This phase has to be a prolonged one as it is going to lay down the platform for my final assault.

In the last phase, it is a question of making a sprint or a run/walk by putting into the extra energy I have conserved. I may fail to make the most in the final phase but I would still land up between the 3 options which I have envisaged.

I wish to imbibe this strategy into my runs to make them stress free and help myself recover early.

Sometime this week I am going to employ this on a 21K run and see how it goes.