Emma Coburn holds the American record in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She is also the 2017 steeplechase World Champion.
How do you push yourself to run faster in a race?
Practice discomfort and learn how to push. And you will surprise yourself. How? Start incorporating sprints and intervals into your training so that you really learn how to take it to the next gear. We all have different mind games we play with ourselves. But really, it’s just about practicing discomfort and going for it. When it comes to a workout, always aim to run your last rep the fastest after already running the second half of your workout faster than the first half. It's all about training your body to get better at hurting.
And just remember: it's going to hurt no matter what. Letting off of the gas will just leave you disappointed.