Train Your Mind to Run a Marathon
Lace-up your shoes and make a mental map of where today’s training route will take you. Put in your earbuds and start a shuffle of your favorite upbeat playlist before moving through some essential warmup stretches. Then, without delay, set the pace and begin your workout.
After pushing through the first few miles, your mind starts to linger on thoughts detrimental to your progress and training schedule. “My legs are getting tired… I should cut the last stretch and take the shortcut home because it’s getting windy… I think I am getting a blister.” The excuses build in numbers and effectiveness until you find yourself convinced quitting is your only choice.
You cut out early and generate an internal promise to compensate for your decision to slack off tomorrow.
It’s true, the ability to perform physically is important, but that’s not the sole characteristic of most accomplished runners. Showing up to those training sessions after a long day at work and pushing through the final miles on a rainy day require internal strengths that are equally as important to your success.
In addition to physical conditioning, runners must train to exert the will and drive it takes to pull themselves over the mountain of excuses and through the miles ahead.
Commit to a Schedule
The day you registered for this marathon was the same day you signed a binding contract with your running shoes. If you want to be successful, you will need to commit to your training schedule like it is an obligatory second job. You are required to show up and put in the hours.
With the obvious exception of serious injuries and other unforeseen circumstances, you must take control and be prepared to call nonsense on any cleverly crafted excuses that may linger in your mind. They will offer you nothing but guilt and hold you back from your intended success.
Your muscles are tender and sore, but that’s a normal outcome proceeding this kind of hard work. Give yourself time to heal while following a balanced and healthy diet to help the process. This process is not going to be easy, but, as we have all been told, nothing worthwhile ever is.
Motivational Mantra
As negative thoughts seep into your mind during a long training run, be prepared to counter with a mantra to refocus on your goal. Choose a handful of mantras that inspire you to go the extra mile, and store them safely in your toolkit. Repeat them when you feel weak or during every second of your run.
Your mantras should awaken your spirit and belief in yourself, even in the darkest mile. They should fuel your desire to keep moving and ignite your drive to push harder.
Constantly Remind Yourself Why You Started
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Whether that prize comes in the form of receiving an award, setting a new personal record, or just crossing the finish line at mile 26.2, your drive for beginning this process and accepting this challenge belongs to you alone.
Practice visualizing yourself accomplishing your goals as you train. Curate and play that moment of you crossing the finish line with a Boston Marathon qualifying time over and over in your head. Write your goal down and read it every day.
Share this endeavor with friends and family, so they can hold you accountable and cheer you on throughout the process. Bringing those you trust in on your goal gives them the opportunity to support you and opens up communication, so they too can remind you why you started when times get tough.
Your body may physically carry you through the race, but your mind is what keeps you pushing towards that end goal.
Happy trails!
