What is a second wind? Some attribute it to a rise in willpower near the end of a workout. Others believe it’s simply the feeling of relief one feels after their muscles receive enough oxygen. Whatever the cause, it helps athletes push through difficult final moments of their competitions.
“The idea of second wind is that when someone’s running a relatively long distance, toward the end of that distance, they have some sort of sensation where breathing and running becomes easier and they’re able to increase their performance unexpectedly toward the end of that run,” said head track and field coach Dino Delyani.
Athletes, specifically cross-country runners, have long meets that require extreme amounts of stamina. In order to complete these matches successfully, athletes undergo training that helps condition their bodies. Cross-country runners train their bodies to balance their endurance and speed, but their training doesn’t always ease the struggles they face throughout their meets.
“In this particular race, when I hit the 200 meter mark, I felt myself slowing down,” said head cross-country coach Frank Hunt. “Some of the other runners started to pull away from me. Then, as I turned the corner approaching 100 meters to the finish, I got a second wind. I was able to regain my form and sprint past other competitors to the finish.”
People have struggled to find the cause of this phenomenon, therefore labeling it a mystery. Consequently, without real evidence of its existence, there are several people that think of it as more of a biological or mental reaction to high levels of physical activity.
“We never talk to our kids about getting a second wind, my view of it is that if you are fit and if you are in shape, you’re probably hydrated and ready to run. Your body will be able to withstand more through the run. Whether there’s a physiological, biological reason for that. I am reasonably certain there’s a mental reason for it,” Delyani said.
However, some athletes claim to have personally experienced this phenomenon. Some may feel a second wind during an intense moment, but don’t realize the presence of it until much later on.
“Personally, I believe that I felt this at large meets,” said sophomore cross-country runner Crystal Chu. “I suddenly felt more awake, and as if I could run farther and faster in comparison to previous meets.”
Many athletes marvel at the idea of experiencing a second wind and often try to anticipate it. The feeling is not always recognizable though. It can elevate an athlete out of their struggle and help them succeed at their work without them realizing a second wind hit them at all.
“I think it is not something that occurs on a regular basis, nor is it something one can predict,” Hunt said. “I should think if you asked athletes they would concur getting a second wind does not happen regularly. If they are gifted and train properly, an athlete is prepared to compete. Once in a while, when they are tiring, something kicks in to allow them to move forward when they thought they could not.”
Although the idea of a second wind is reassuring, experiencing a second wind is rare and shouldn’t be counted upon. Instead, athletes should work hard to keep up with their conditioning so they won’t have to rely on the off chance they will experience a second wind.
