Is it bad to over push yourself?

Question

When it is like 80 degrees outside is it bad to push yourself to finish 3 miles? What is a consequence of pushing yourself to hard? Is there even a such thing as pushing yourself to hard?

Thankyou

Answer 1

well kinda, i like to push myself to but i know if you push it to far it can hurt you,you could sprain your ancle or pull a muscle.

Answer 2

no as long as you get good sleep and drink water and tearing your muscle, or another injury i a consequence....but pushing yourself for three miles isnt bad

Answer 3

you dont get any better unless you push yourself, if you are just begining it is ok to ease off though because running itself is alot of work for you.

Answer 4

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Good questions.  It seems like you're willing to work to improve your running performance - and your willingness to do that means you're half the way there!

By pushing yourself hard, you can over time increase your capacity for training and racing - which simply put, means you will improve!  But you can push yourself too hard.  Read on, a bit.

**Some specific answers to your questions**

It's not bad to push yourself to finish 3 miles when it's 80 degrees outside.  For some, that 80 degrees is warm.  For others, like those in Phoenix, that 80 degrees is cool!  The point is, it's not an extreme temperature - not the 120 degrees Phoenix can reach in the summer, nor the below zero Chicago can reach in the winter - so don't be concerned about running in 80 degree temperature.

The consequence of pushing yourself too hard in one workout at the worst can be a strained muscle; or it could be discouragement, if in pushing yourself too hard you still don't meet your training or racing goals.

And, yes, there is such a thing as pushing yourself too hard.  For some, pushing too hard means running too long or too fast when they've not built up over time to a given distance or a given speed.

For others, pushing yourself too hard means running hard or long one day after the next after the next after the next . . . running too fast, too often, without giving yourself a breather between hard workouts.  In this case, the consequence can be physical or mental fatigue, either of which can take a lot of time to get over.

**An example**

A quick example.  From my sophomore year in high school through my freshman year in college, I was periodically injured.  When I wasn't injured, I trained averaging 100 miles per week.  After years of doing this, I couldn't run another step.  Anytime I thought about running, about getting on the road, I'd get nauseous, just sick to my stomach.

It took about three years to get over that feeling.  Sadly, I missed some good college running back then, but apparently God had other things in store for me for that time.

**Avoiding pushing too hard**

Likely, you working hard, pushing yourself will result in you improving your racing performance.  It takes work to do well!  So keep on working hard, and you will succeed in racing!

Some things to keep in mind if you don't want to experience that physical or mental fatigue, or physical injury.

-first condition (harden) your legs and your whole body to run, then condition your legs and your whole body to run fast.

-gradually build up the distance you run, week by week, month by month.  If you are running 30 minutes a day right now, next week run 35 minutes a day; the next week 40; and so on.

-with that, gradually increase your training speed.  This requires a bit more explanation, so if you have a coach to talk to, talk to your coach about this.

This could involve, for example, once a week running 4 times 5 minutes at a minute above your target race pace, then over time bringing that speed down to your target race pace, and eventually below your target race pace.

-follow a pattern over a week of hard workout - easy workout - hard - easy - hard - easy.  Work hard no more than three times a week.  Take a complete breather once a week, doing something other than running for a good cardiovascular workout, but allowing the leg muscles involved in running to recover.

-train, don't strain.  If you feel pain, don't baby yourself, but take an active approach to dealing with it.  But deal with it - don't ignore aches and pains and strains that last for more than 2 or 3 days.

Regards,

Phil

Answer 5

You should always push yourself to new limits, that's how you improve.  You will know if you pushed yourself too bad.  Listen to your body, if something feels really off stop.  I think pushing yourself to complete a 3 mile run in 80 degree whether isn't bad.  Now trying to complete a marathon without training in 80 degree weather without proper hydration, and fuel that is bad.

Answer 6

80 degrees isn't that bad, but if you are in poor shape, you shouldn't push it too hard--you will take too long to recover when you could have done another workout

Answer 7

u might throw up. and have a small stomach ace later butit will pass up. and youll have a pride in you after werd.

i say go for it.

Answer 8

80 degree weather isn't bad

and when you push your self it means you try so hard that you cant take it

and you get dehydrated

Answer 9

push yourself to your max just don't hurt yourself. my conference meet for cross country i overpushed my self and passed out from dehydration after the race. make sure you get enough fluids.

Answer 10

i've run a 3.1 mile race in 97degree heat so  it really depends how much in shape you are , but you can push yourself to hard sometimes, just use your best judgement