Courtney Dewaulter, an elite ultramarathoner, said countless times how she looks forward to the “Pain Cave.”
What Is The Pain Cave?
In ultrarunning, the “pain cave” is a mindset that runners get into when they pass a physical threshold. When a runner gets so uncomfortable with pain but can’t quit, they enter the pain cave. The pain cave is where a runner gets comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Some runners like to meditate on the pain and find peace in the discomfort. This is where a runner confronts their pain and accepts it for what it is. Runners know that if they don’t accept the pain, the run will be over for them.
Should You Push Through The Pain When Running?
This is an important question only a runner that’s experiencing the pain can answer. The whole point of the “Pain Cave” is to accept the pain and push through it, but pain is our body’s way of telling us that something is wrong. To be able to differentiate types of pain, which to ignore and which not to, is when training comes in. It’s a good idea for a runner to experience pain in training so that when it comes to a race, they know that the pain they’re experiencing is not worrisome.
When Should You Not Run Through Pain?
First and foremost, a runner needs to be attuned to their body. This is part of mindful running to understand the body’s reactions to physical stress. It’s not a bad idea for a runner to have some knowledge of physiology to understanding the difference between tendonitis and tendon tear.
There are different categories of pain, Mild, Medium, and Severe. Mild is about around 1-3 on the pain scale, medium is 4-7, and severe is greater than 7. It’s fair to say that a runner will be okay when experiencing pain ranging from 1 to 6. Anything above a 6 may be worrisome. However, the pain scale ranges are very subjective, so one runner’s pain may be a 3, and another runner’s of the same pain may be a 7.
Many runners—the really hardcore ones—run through broken bones, torn tendons/ligaments, and muscle tears; I truly do not recommend this at all. When running through severe injuries would only make the injury worse. I come from a school of thought when experiencing intense pain, stop to run another day. Unless you’re on the brink of winning a gold medal at the Olympics or thousands of dollars are at stake, then don’t push yourself so hard that it causes great injury, and if you are one of those athletes, you probably know more than me about this topic.
What Pain Should I Worry About Or Not?
First, if you’re experiencing chest pain, then please seek medical attention, especially with it radiating down your left arm. Some chest pain may be due to indigestion, especially when eating running gels or when eating any food during long-distance runs. It’s important as a runner to be able to differentiate types of chest pain, but it’s always safe to stop and seek medical attention.
Any sudden sharp pain is usually bad. Sudden sharp pain may be due to broken bones, torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons. The “sudden” means that something in our body went out or snapped.
Sometimes the sharp pain may or may not be accompanied by a SNAP sound if you hear something snap then a tendon or a ligament is probably torn. When my hamstring was torn I heard a snapping sound first, followed by medium pain.
Usually, any gradual pain isn’t too worrisome. Gradual pain is usually due to fatigue or tightening of tendons and ligaments.
Many runners get involuntary muscle contractions in their thighs or other leg muscles, which can be freaky if never felt before. I felt involuntary contractions in my thighs many times. The most common cause of involuntary contraction is muscle fatigue or electrolyte imbalance. This usually goes away if a runner slows down for a bit to let the muscles recover and/or drink/eat foods that have electrolytes in them, and usually, this will go away.
These pains are the most common and easily placed in a category; some pains are not as easy as a burning sensation—it could be nothing or something may have torn—or dull pains, which most likely is nothing but can be a developing fracture.
The best judge of the pain you’re experiencing is you! So again, be mindful of your body!
Summary
The “Pain Cave” is a place where a runner goes in their mind when dealing with physical pain during a run. The “Pain Cave” is a place of solitude and peace for some; it’s a place where we confront and just deal with the pain. There are different severities of pain, and runners must be mindful of their bodies and their limits. The best way to ensure that the pain isn’t dangerous is to train and be prepared for whatever the individual will put themselves through.
So, during those long ultra runs, just relax and enjoy the run from your “PAIN CAVE!”
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional, so please talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.
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