intervals and me.

[bertiewhang]

Why does my mind wander while I'm doing my intervals and I end up thinking about random shite?
Also I seem to become a complete hypochondriac and try to convince myself that I'm not quite up to it before starting.
does anyone have any good tips for keeping the mind on the task in hand?

[Too Tall]

why does my mind wander while i'm doing my intervals and i end up thinking about random shite?
Also i seem to become a complete hypochondriac and try to convince myself that i'm not quite up to it before starting.
Does anyone have any good tips for keeping the mind on the task in hand?

loud music

[Tom Officer]

Why does my mind wander while I'm doing my intervals and I end up thinking about random shite?
Also I seem to become a complete hypochondriac and try to convince myself that I'm not quite up to it before starting.
does anyone have any good tips for keeping the mind on the task in hand?

race visualization is the best thing for me, different scenarios like riding away to a win or chasing a break down

[Chance Legstrong]

I have a couple of years of race video (Tulsa Tough weekends) and can watch the entire races, and I use them as unplanned attacks, intervals etc.
Pretending i am back in the race setting really helps. (kinda)

[roseyscot]

if you're indoors, the sufferfest videos have done wonders to motivate me. they are making trainer time both effective and tolerable.

[suhacycles]

If you get tired of watching videos, making music CDs might be worth a try. You can hammer during heavier songs, recover during the lighter ones, sprint during guitar solos, stand up and keep your cadence in rhythm with the drums... stuff like that. Found myself pushing a little longer sometimes just to get to the end of a certain song before changing gears.

[Wisco]

Focus on your breathing or cadence. In other words use the trainer time to look INSIDE instead of looking OUTSIDE yourself. It's also great mental training to teach yourself that you can keep going even if you're not feeling so hot.

[boots2000]

What kind of efforts are you trying to do?
I find most people that have problems with intervals have problems because they are trying to go too hard or to do max effort intervals.
Intervals do not have to be max effort to have huge benefit. In fact, you should start with just tempo intervals-

[bertiewhang]

Thanks for the tips lads, I have found the visualisations helpful.
It's not all of the time my mind wanders, it just happens sometimes
and I just needed a bit of help to keep my mind on the job.
I did find Tom's "riding away" tip really good.
Thanks again for the help.
Lee

[Jaq]

+1 for loud music. My interval routine is ~ 2 mins on, 2.5 rest; 3 on, 3.5 rest; 4 on, 4.5 rest. On my rollers, I'll use a playlist that's upbeat for the "on" portion, slower for the "rest." The last 3 are just warm-down tunes. With the upbeat tunes, it helps to have songs that finish boldly/sharply. The rest tunes can fade out; it helps to remind you that the next interval is coming up.

Bomb With the Twist	5,6,7,8s	2:30
Why Don't You Love Me	Hank Williams	2:30
Lonely Boy	Black Keys	3:13
Halloway Jail	The Kinks	3:25
Ring of Fire	Social Distortion	3:51
The Man Comes Around	Johnny Cash	4:29
Where Eagles Dare	The Misfits	2:06
The Whole World Round	The Dillards	2:30
Mexico	Dick Dale	3:05
Hit or Miss	Odetta	3:33
Only a Lad	Oingo Boingo	3:58
Me and Bobby McGee	Janis Joplin	4:30
I Don't Like You	The Muffs	2:01
Good Lovin'	The Rascals	2:31
Drum Boogie	Gene Krupa	3:00
G.I. Jive	Johnny Mercer	3:25
It Wasn't Me	George Thorogood	4:00
Yellow	Cold Play	4:29
Journey of the Sorcerer	The Eagles	6:37
Don't Bogart Me	The Fraternity of Man	3:06