"Training is 90% physical and 10% mental. Race day is the exact opposite. Your body is trained, rested and ready to go. Your mind is in charge on race day. Keep your mind actively engaged in the race and think your way through the course. Review the course map and break it up into smaller, more digestible segments. It's easier to stay focused and engaged for shorter periods of time than for several hours.Understand marathoning is like life and you're going to go through peaks andvalleys. Bring power words and positive mantra to carry you through the valleys. Words like "strong and steady" are useful in keeping your mind focused and positive."
This is an excerpt from a mass motivational emails that the Chicago Marathon runners recieve.
It is mental. I learned the trick to running 26.2 miles from a middle aged balding man, short with a heavy build.
"You know," I approached him talking to a runner beside him. Mile 18, the worst.
"The trick is," deap heavy breathing.
"You just keep moving." Red face, he let out a heavy chuckle.
"Until mile 19.... My kids are at mile 19... We got three of them... beautiful..... even... if... I want to fall over..... I run like hell..... when I pass them and ..... they think.... I'm superman."
We all have our own motivations. Running Boston, I carried a small post-it with 26 people and things that I was grateful for, each assigned a specifc mile. Our most important source of strength is always the heart.
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It's so impressive to me that you completed a marathon(s). I think the post-it idea is an excellent motivation and I would definitely like to give that a try.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lexie that that post-its are a truly great idea. I am definitely someone who finds it extremely difficult to find motivation when running. Usually, my trick is just to keep looking ahead, never at the ground. Also, visualizing reaching my destination. For me, these are just things to talk myself into not stopping. However, I have a feeling that the post-it note idea would be much better motivation than either of these.
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