#fallingwatertrailmarathon — Public Fediverse posts

Visualization and race-specific training

I’ve always had a wild imagination.

Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time.

When I quit hockey at age 12 and took up running instead, my imagination never disappeared. Whether or not I was running with Ben Harris, I was always running with Ben Harris.

Sometimes Muhumed Sirage was there too. He always finished first (I knew where to draw the line).

I think the art of visualization helps keep the mind and body focused and engaged on the task at hand. I love being out in nature, I love running, but I’ve always had this burning desire to be the absolute best I can be. This mindset can be problematic. In fact, it’s probably held me back.

But at its core, running has never been just about the love of nature or the love of running itself. It’s about seeing what I’m fully capable of in a realm where I’ve visualized more success than I’ve achieved.

That only motivates me more. The fact that the others in this realm are faster only motivates me more. And it’s awesome to have them by my side in training. But recently, I’ve started to only visualize myself. No one else.

I’ve always been a proponent of “game-realistic training” for any sport. When it comes to my running, I sometimes take that to extremes. Leading up to Sulphur Springs, I ran the demands of my race at just about the pace and/or distance of my race every weekend. I got fit fast and secured third, but I knew this wasn’t a sustainable approach to training.

Now working with a dedicated coach, I’ve been slowly doing better at not crushing every single downhill/uphill as though it’s the race itself. Sometimes I still get carried away on downhills, loving my life. And as long as I’m in Ontario, climbs are short enough where I can physically run every step. So why walk when you can run?

One of the most helpful elements of that slowing down process has been ending the visualizations on climbs.

When I’d do repeats of Martin Rd. prior to Sulphur Springs, I always made it my mission to catch Reid Coolsaet ahead. He was never actually there.

This actually ended up playing out in the final climb against Matt instead, almost exactly as I visualized it.

Those visualizations paid off. But I think in many ways, they aren’t sustainable for a career in running where I’m not destroying my body in training every single time. Why did I feel the need to include Reid in that equation (someone who didn’t even race!) when I could have visualized myself being cheered on by an imaginary crowd? Why do I always feel the need to compare myself to others around me? Beating these guys can serve as some sort of validation that I’m good. But I should know that intrinsically. So that’s what I’ve tried to do more of in this block, with the help of Brett.

Now I’m going down my favourite section of Falling Water to the finish (these rolling downhills are incredible and I could do that section every week), and I’m only imagining myself doing this on race day. I’m not picturing trying to catch up to Matt, and I’m actively slowing myself down from the fun (partially so that I can save my legs for the starting climb that comes immediately after that in my training).

I will always be a proponent of game-realistic training, but I also think there’s a line that has to be crossed in recognizing that training still isn’t the game itself. And that’s a line I can certainly do better to walk (or run).

Thanks for reading & see you soon!

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Strava Profile | Rhys Desmond

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…

Weekly Newsletter – The Magic of 2-Minute Hills

I love hill workouts in every form.

From 3-minute hills to 10-minute hills to 90-second hills, I LOVE MY HILLS.

There’s so much magic in a hill workout for trail running, as you get the muscle breakdown of all the downhills on your rest and recovery; and get to practice pushing harder in…

How I’ve become a better trail runner by running less on trails

I knew I needed to prioritize my “speed” in 2025 to get faster. But I didn’t realize how quickly we could make cosmic changes just from more of an emphasis on one thing: Road running (i.e. running economy and efficiency).

The importance of mobility work for trail runners & injury-prone athletes

As I’ve continued to endure injuries even despite the diligent attention to this piece of the puzzle, I’ve reflected on how I can make sure my mobility is properly attended to as much as my runs. Here are my best tips for prioritizing mobility, and why it’s so essential for trail runners and injury-prone athletes…

#Ambition #BenHarris #Confidence #FallingWaterTrailMarathon #GameRealisticTraining #HillTraining #Imagination #IntrinsicMotivation #MuhumedSirage #RaceSimulation #RaceSpecificTraining #RaceStrategies #Running #TheComparisonGame #TrailRunning #TrainingTheory #Visualization

I’ve always had a wild imagination.

Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time.

When I quit hockey at age 12 and took up running instead, my imagination never disappeared. Whether or not I was running with Ben Harris, I was always running with Ben Harris.

Sometimes Muhumed Sirage was there too. He always finished first (I knew where to draw the line).

I think the art of visualization helps keep the mind and body focused and engaged on the task at hand. I love being out in nature, I love running, but I’ve always had this burning desire to be the absolute best I can be. This mindset can be problematic. In fact, it’s probably held me back.

But at its core, running has never been just about the love of nature or the love of running itself. It’s about seeing what I’m fully capable of in a realm where I’ve visualized more success than I’ve achieved.

That only motivates me more. The fact that the others in this realm are faster only motivates me more. And it’s awesome to have them by my side in training. But recently, I’ve started to only visualize myself. No one else.

I’ve always been a proponent of “game-realistic training” for any sport. When it comes to my running, I sometimes take that to extremes. Leading up to Sulphur Springs, I ran the demands of my race at just about the pace and/or distance of my race every weekend. I got fit fast and secured third, but I knew this wasn’t a sustainable approach to training.

Now working with a dedicated coach, I’ve been slowly doing better at not crushing every single downhill/uphill as though it’s the race itself. Sometimes I still get carried away on downhills, loving my life. And as long as I’m in Ontario, climbs are short enough where I can physically run every step. So why walk when you can run?

One of the most helpful elements of that slowing down process has been ending the visualizations on climbs.

When I’d do repeats of Martin Rd. prior to Sulphur Springs, I always made it my mission to catch Reid Coolsaet ahead. He was never actually there.

This actually ended up playing out in the final climb against Matt instead, almost exactly as I visualized it.

Those visualizations paid off. But I think in many ways, they aren’t sustainable for a career in running where I’m not destroying my body in training every single time. Why did I feel the need to include Reid in that equation (someone who didn’t even race!) when I could have visualized myself being cheered on by an imaginary crowd? Why do I always feel the need to compare myself to others around me? Beating these guys can serve as some sort of validation that I’m good. But I should know that intrinsically. So that’s what I’ve tried to do more of in this block, with the help of Brett.

Now I’m going down my favourite section of Falling Water to the finish (these rolling downhills are incredible and I could do that section every week), and I’m only imagining myself doing this on race day. I’m not picturing trying to catch up to Matt, and I’m actively slowing myself down from the fun (partially so that I can save my legs for the starting climb that comes immediately after that in my training).

I will always be a proponent of game-realistic training, but I also think there’s a line that has to be crossed in recognizing that training still isn’t the game itself. And that’s a line I can certainly do better to walk (or run).

Thanks for reading & see you soon!

Get inspired and join my free email list!

• Mail
• WordPress
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• YouTube

Strava Profile | Rhys Desmond

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…

Letting the body heal

When you’re in the thrust of the season, injuries quickly become a stressful part of the training process. This can lead to not only more stress, but trying to push the body past the point of pain either through continued running or cross-training. This is what I did for months in order to try and…

The smartest runner always wins

In trail running, it’s not always the fastest, fittest runner that wins. Quite often, it’s the smartest runner. The one that knows how to use a course to serve their own strengths. Here is why Elhousine Elazzaoui remains the front runner to win the Golden Trail World Series this year, and why smarts often outwit…

Ending my year in September

I’ve long been an advocate that the year should start in September. But this time around, I am ending my year in September. No Bromont for me and no Defi des Couleurs for me.

https://rhysdesmond.com/2023/07/29/visualization-and-race-specific-training/

#Ambition #BenHarris #Confidence #FallingWaterTrailMarathon #GameRealisticTraining #HillTraining #Imagination #IntrinsicMotivation #MuhumedSirage #RaceSimulation #RaceSpecificTraining #RaceStrategies #Running #TheComparisonGame #TrailRunning #TrainingTheory #Visualization

Visualization and race-specific training

I’ve always had a wild imagination.

Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time.

When I quit hockey at age 12 and took up running instead, my imagination never disappeared. Whether or not I was running with Ben Harris, I was always running with Ben Harris.

Sometimes Muhumed Sirage was there too. He always finished first (I knew where to draw the line).

I think the art of visualization helps keep the mind and body focused and engaged on the task at hand. I love being out in nature, I love running, but I’ve always had this burning desire to be the absolute best I can be. This mindset can be problematic. In fact, it’s probably held me back.

But at its core, running has never been just about the love of nature or the love of running itself. It’s about seeing what I’m fully capable of in a realm where I’ve visualized more success than I’ve achieved.

That only motivates me more. The fact that the others in this realm are faster only motivates me more. And it’s awesome to have them by my side in training. But recently, I’ve started to only visualize myself. No one else.

I’ve always been a proponent of “game-realistic training” for any sport. When it comes to my running, I sometimes take that to extremes. Leading up to Sulphur Springs, I ran the demands of my race at just about the pace and/or distance of my race every weekend. I got fit fast and secured third, but I knew this wasn’t a sustainable approach to training.

Now working with a dedicated coach, I’ve been slowly doing better at not crushing every single downhill/uphill as though it’s the race itself. Sometimes I still get carried away on downhills, loving my life. And as long as I’m in Ontario, climbs are short enough where I can physically run every step. So why walk when you can run?

One of the most helpful elements of that slowing down process has been ending the visualizations on climbs.

When I’d do repeats of Martin Rd. prior to Sulphur Springs, I always made it my mission to catch Reid Coolsaet ahead. He was never actually there.

This actually ended up playing out in the final climb against Matt instead, almost exactly as I visualized it.

Those visualizations paid off. But I think in many ways, they aren’t sustainable for a career in running where I’m not destroying my body in training every single time. Why did I feel the need to include Reid in that equation (someone who didn’t even race!) when I could have visualized myself being cheered on by an imaginary crowd? Why do I always feel the need to compare myself to others around me? Beating these guys can serve as some sort of validation that I’m good. But I should know that intrinsically. So that’s what I’ve tried to do more of in this block, with the help of Brett.

Now I’m going down my favourite section of Falling Water to the finish (these rolling downhills are incredible and I could do that section every week), and I’m only imagining myself doing this on race day. I’m not picturing trying to catch up to Matt, and I’m actively slowing myself down from the fun (partially so that I can save my legs for the starting climb that comes immediately after that in my training).

I will always be a proponent of game-realistic training, but I also think there’s a line that has to be crossed in recognizing that training still isn’t the game itself. And that’s a line I can certainly do better to walk (or run).

Thanks for reading & see you soon!

Enter your email address

Get inspired and join my email list!

• Mail
• Link
• WordPress
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• YouTube

Strava Profile | Rhys Desmond

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…

Weekly Newsletter – The Magic of 2-Minute Hills

I love hill workouts in every form.

From 3-minute hills to 10-minute hills to 90-second hills, I LOVE MY HILLS.

There’s so much magic in a hill workout for trail running, as you get the muscle breakdown of all the downhills on your rest and recovery; and get to practice pushing harder in…

How I’ve become a better trail runner by running less on trails

I knew I needed to prioritize my “speed” in 2025 to get faster. But I didn’t realize how quickly we could make cosmic changes just from more of an emphasis on one thing: Road running (i.e. running economy and efficiency).

The importance of mobility work for trail runners & injury-prone athletes

As I’ve continued to endure injuries even despite the diligent attention to this piece of the puzzle, I’ve reflected on how I can make sure my mobility is properly attended to as much as my runs. Here are my best tips for prioritizing mobility, and why it’s so essential for trail runners and injury-prone athletes…

#Ambition #BenHarris #Confidence #FallingWaterTrailMarathon #GameRealisticTraining #HillTraining #Imagination #IntrinsicMotivation #MuhumedSirage #RaceSimulation #RaceSpecificTraining #RaceStrategies #Running #TheComparisonGame #TrailRunning #TrainingTheory #Visualization

I’ve always had a wild imagination.

Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time.

When I quit hockey at age 12 and took up running instead, my imagination never disappeared. Whether or not I was running with Ben Harris, I was always running with Ben Harris.

Sometimes Muhumed Sirage was there too. He always finished first (I knew where to draw the line).

I think the art of visualization helps keep the mind and body focused and engaged on the task at hand. I love being out in nature, I love running, but I’ve always had this burning desire to be the absolute best I can be. This mindset can be problematic. In fact, it’s probably held me back.

But at its core, running has never been just about the love of nature or the love of running itself. It’s about seeing what I’m fully capable of in a realm where I’ve visualized more success than I’ve achieved.

That only motivates me more. The fact that the others in this realm are faster only motivates me more. And it’s awesome to have them by my side in training. But recently, I’ve started to only visualize myself. No one else.

I’ve always been a proponent of “game-realistic training” for any sport. When it comes to my running, I sometimes take that to extremes. Leading up to Sulphur Springs, I ran the demands of my race at just about the pace and/or distance of my race every weekend. I got fit fast and secured third, but I knew this wasn’t a sustainable approach to training.

Now working with a dedicated coach, I’ve been slowly doing better at not crushing every single downhill/uphill as though it’s the race itself. Sometimes I still get carried away on downhills, loving my life. And as long as I’m in Ontario, climbs are short enough where I can physically run every step. So why walk when you can run?

One of the most helpful elements of that slowing down process has been ending the visualizations on climbs.

When I’d do repeats of Martin Rd. prior to Sulphur Springs, I always made it my mission to catch Reid Coolsaet ahead. He was never actually there.

This actually ended up playing out in the final climb against Matt instead, almost exactly as I visualized it.

Those visualizations paid off. But I think in many ways, they aren’t sustainable for a career in running where I’m not destroying my body in training every single time. Why did I feel the need to include Reid in that equation (someone who didn’t even race!) when I could have visualized myself being cheered on by an imaginary crowd? Why do I always feel the need to compare myself to others around me? Beating these guys can serve as some sort of validation that I’m good. But I should know that intrinsically. So that’s what I’ve tried to do more of in this block, with the help of Brett.

Now I’m going down my favourite section of Falling Water to the finish (these rolling downhills are incredible and I could do that section every week), and I’m only imagining myself doing this on race day. I’m not picturing trying to catch up to Matt, and I’m actively slowing myself down from the fun (partially so that I can save my legs for the starting climb that comes immediately after that in my training).

I will always be a proponent of game-realistic training, but I also think there’s a line that has to be crossed in recognizing that training still isn’t the game itself. And that’s a line I can certainly do better to walk (or run).

Thanks for reading & see you soon!

Get inspired and join my free email list!

• Mail
• WordPress
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• YouTube

Strava Profile | Rhys Desmond

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…

Letting the body heal

When you’re in the thrust of the season, injuries quickly become a stressful part of the training process. This can lead to not only more stress, but trying to push the body past the point of pain either through continued running or cross-training. This is what I did for months in order to try and…

The smartest runner always wins

In trail running, it’s not always the fastest, fittest runner that wins. Quite often, it’s the smartest runner. The one that knows how to use a course to serve their own strengths. Here is why Elhousine Elazzaoui remains the front runner to win the Golden Trail World Series this year, and why smarts often outwit…

Ending my year in September

I’ve long been an advocate that the year should start in September. But this time around, I am ending my year in September. No Bromont for me and no Defi des Couleurs for me.

https://rhysdesmond.com/2023/07/29/visualization-and-race-specific-training/

#Ambition #BenHarris #Confidence #FallingWaterTrailMarathon #GameRealisticTraining #HillTraining #Imagination #IntrinsicMotivation #MuhumedSirage #RaceSimulation #RaceSpecificTraining #RaceStrategies #Running #TheComparisonGame #TrailRunning #TrainingTheory #Visualization

I’ve always had a wild imagination.

Growing up, I’d play hockey and soccer in my basement for hours on end. Every single time, I’d visualize being the best in the world. I’d break all the records, score the wildest of goals, and mesmerize the commentators every time.

When I quit hockey at age 12 and took up running instead, my imagination never disappeared. Whether or not I was running with Ben Harris, I was always running with Ben Harris.

Sometimes Muhumed Sirage was there too. He always finished first (I knew where to draw the line).

I think the art of visualization helps keep the mind and body focused and engaged on the task at hand. I love being out in nature, I love running, but I’ve always had this burning desire to be the absolute best I can be. This mindset can be problematic. In fact, it’s probably held me back.

But at its core, running has never been just about the love of nature or the love of running itself. It’s about seeing what I’m fully capable of in a realm where I’ve visualized more success than I’ve achieved.

That only motivates me more. The fact that the others in this realm are faster only motivates me more. And it’s awesome to have them by my side in training. But recently, I’ve started to only visualize myself. No one else.

I’ve always been a proponent of “game-realistic training” for any sport. When it comes to my running, I sometimes take that to extremes. Leading up to Sulphur Springs, I ran the demands of my race at just about the pace and/or distance of my race every weekend. I got fit fast and secured third, but I knew this wasn’t a sustainable approach to training.

Now working with a dedicated coach, I’ve been slowly doing better at not crushing every single downhill/uphill as though it’s the race itself. Sometimes I still get carried away on downhills, loving my life. And as long as I’m in Ontario, climbs are short enough where I can physically run every step. So why walk when you can run?

One of the most helpful elements of that slowing down process has been ending the visualizations on climbs.

When I’d do repeats of Martin Rd. prior to Sulphur Springs, I always made it my mission to catch Reid Coolsaet ahead. He was never actually there.

This actually ended up playing out in the final climb against Matt instead, almost exactly as I visualized it.

Those visualizations paid off. But I think in many ways, they aren’t sustainable for a career in running where I’m not destroying my body in training every single time. Why did I feel the need to include Reid in that equation (someone who didn’t even race!) when I could have visualized myself being cheered on by an imaginary crowd? Why do I always feel the need to compare myself to others around me? Beating these guys can serve as some sort of validation that I’m good. But I should know that intrinsically. So that’s what I’ve tried to do more of in this block, with the help of Brett.

Now I’m going down my favourite section of Falling Water to the finish (these rolling downhills are incredible and I could do that section every week), and I’m only imagining myself doing this on race day. I’m not picturing trying to catch up to Matt, and I’m actively slowing myself down from the fun (partially so that I can save my legs for the starting climb that comes immediately after that in my training).

I will always be a proponent of game-realistic training, but I also think there’s a line that has to be crossed in recognizing that training still isn’t the game itself. And that’s a line I can certainly do better to walk (or run).

Thanks for reading & see you soon!

Get inspired and join my free email list!

• Mail
• WordPress
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• YouTube

Strava Profile | Rhys Desmond

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY…

Letting the body heal

When you’re in the thrust of the season, injuries quickly become a stressful part of the training process. This can lead to not only more stress, but trying to push the body past the point of pain either through continued running or cross-training. This is what I did for months in order to try and…

The smartest runner always wins

In trail running, it’s not always the fastest, fittest runner that wins. Quite often, it’s the smartest runner. The one that knows how to use a course to serve their own strengths. Here is why Elhousine Elazzaoui remains the front runner to win the Golden Trail World Series this year, and why smarts often outwit…

Ending my year in September

I’ve long been an advocate that the year should start in September. But this time around, I am ending my year in September. No Bromont for me and no Defi des Couleurs for me.

https://rhysdesmond.com/2023/07/29/visualization-and-race-specific-training/

#Ambition #BenHarris #Confidence #FallingWaterTrailMarathon #GameRealisticTraining #HillTraining #Imagination #IntrinsicMotivation #MuhumedSirage #RaceSimulation #RaceSpecificTraining #RaceStrategies #Running #TheComparisonGame #TrailRunning #TrainingTheory #Visualization