Let's face it, some times you get hurt when you train. Its part of the gig and how you work through the pain can make the difference between getting to the next level of your work out or forever being stuck at your present peak.

I've heard some trainers describe pain as a signal that the body has reached a "break through point", and that once you break through, this point in the work out will forever be easier. I can see the psychology in that statement and it makes some sense. The troubling part is the word "pain". It is a very broad word, and it isn't like we have a word in English for "good pain", i.e. pain that leads to growth, and "bad pain", i.e. pain that leads to destruction. If we did, the discussion around why athletes, and the average wide-body, is determined to push themselves to the point of pain. We push because we grow, not because we are masochists. Well, at least most of us aren't.

Runners World had some good tips on pushing through the pain and getting to the other side in one piece. Check it out here: www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--12852-5-1X2X3X4-5,00.html

Train Smarter, Hurt Less

Four ways to prep your body to handle anything

1. Prep for pain
Before you tackle a tough race, acquaint yourself with the types of pain you might feel. You may be surprised how racing downhill can pound your quads into hamburger if you ease up on descents in normal training. Your brain is more apt to hit the brakes if you encounter an unexpected difficulty than one it has planned for, says Dugas. Training for painful ups and downs (and headwinds and heat waves) will push your body to adapt.

2. Train at race pace
If you want to run faster, you need to teach your body and brain what that feels like before the race, Dugas says. Whether you're training for a 5-K or 26.2, running mile repeats at that pace helps your body adapt to the workload and your brain recognize what your pace should feel like. Then, when race day comes, your mind will be more apt to trust your body to keep pace without blowing up.

3. Push your limits
You probably already know how interval training can improve your performance. This is partly because it raises your pain tolerance, too. Runners who begin interval-training programs lower their running times more quickly than physiological adaptations can take place, implying that there's something going on in the brain, too, says Dugas. Exactly what happens remains unclear, but repeatedly pushing yourself near your limit may train the brain to activate the muscles in a more optimal manner, Dugas speculates. Another theory holds that intervals give your mind a clearer sense of what your body can tolerate. When you hammer yourself in interval sessions, you teach the brain, "Okay, I can handle this," says Dugas.

4. Find an accomplice
There's nothing like having a buddy breathing down your neck to help you approach your pain threshold. "Training groups can push you and take you to heights that you didn't think were possible," says Atkinson. "You learn your body can do some astonishing things."

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