Run & Race Tip #5 - Never Look Back

Never look back during a race. For most short distance competitive runners this is a well known rule.  This may have less bearing in longer distance running, when you’re running for hours you will of course be curious as to who’s running near you. You may just be looking back to see who might be coming to run with you…   In long races this tip should be taken into consideration, but in half marathons and under this should be pretty much a stead fast rule.

Back when I was running cross country I used to love seeing someone look back. I saw it as a sign of weakness, as soon as he looked back I knew he was scared, which meant he was starting to struggle. When I caught someone looking back it was such a mental surge, I was stronger than my prey and I could track them down easily.
Not only does looking back give others a mental edge, it actually slows you down. For a moment you’re not aligned in your natural running motion, for a stride you’re twisted and off balance, and sometimes this stride can make all the difference.

Take for example the “Miracle Mile” between Bannister and Landy, the two fastest milers of their time and the first two to ever break the 4-min mile barrier. Bannister was the first to break the barrier and Landy set a world record (3:57.9) 6 weeks later. The “Miracle Mile” marked the first time in history 2 men broke the 4 min barrier in the same race with Bannister passing Landy in the final stretch as Landy glanced back over his shoulder. An event that will be forever memorialized by a bronze statue in Vancouver and in the first ever published Sports Illustrated. Landy must have wondered what could have been had he focused on his own race, and pushed as hard as he could without worrying about what Bannister was doing.


Miracle Mile - Banister & Landy

In these shorter races what good can come of looking back? Realizing that someone is right behind you and you need to push harder? Why weren’t you pushing as hard as you could anyway? Always imagine the others are going to catch you from behind if you let up, if you look back you’re only giving them more ability to do just that.