60 MARCH 2017 womensrunninguk.co.ukMILES WITH SMILES
telling me a few jokes as I was being carried
off the field. Without a shadow of doubt, the
humour he shared with me distracted me
from the pain that eventually kicked in.”
Laughter can also help to reduce
perceived effort and Cohen has an
interesting theory about how this works,
too. She suggests that humour can ease the
stress of a situation because it makes us feel
not only more positive, but more powerful.
“When we laugh, we feel stronger and more
capable – it gives us a sense of superiority,
which is important when tackling a challenge
you may not be 100% sure of succeeding at.”
So, it seems, the race-poster slogan I once
spotted in the Chicago Marathon was right:
“The reason your feet are hurting is because
you’re kicking so much ass!”
“BEING RELAXED, IN
TURN, HELPS TO
REDUCE NERVES AND
MUSCULAR TENSION,
IMPROVING OUR
FRAME OF MIND AND
PHYSICAL
PERFORMANCE”
PRE RACE COMEDY WARM UP
Interestingly, it’s not just helpful to use
laughter during a race, using it before the
event can be beneficial, too. “The build-up
of nerves ahead of an event can increase
anxiety so it’s a good idea to find a way to
connect with your fellow competitors,” says
Carbon. “Joking around at the startline can
change the mood and perception of the
pain that lies ahead by making light of it
and putting everyone at ease. Usain Bolt is
great at doing this – his amusing gestures
and positive mood help him to stay relaxed
before major sporting events.” Being friendly
and funny at the startline also means that,
should you see each other again later in
the race, you can use the power of a smile
and greeting to help you push through the
pain. And don’t forget that having a sense of
humour post-run can be beneficial, too. “It
will help you let go of mistakes and rebound
more quickly,” says Carbon.