Submitted by Tyson Norris
“I’m tired. I’m hurting. My body is screaming. My lungs are burning. My heart is pounding. My joints are aching. I’m soaked in sweat. I’m only halfway through this workout and I’m fading already; I wonder if I’m the only one feeling this way. The finish line feels like an eternity away…” Does any of this sound familiar?
If you train hard enough, over a long enough period of time, chances are you’ve experienced these kinds of negative thoughts and feelings. The reason is simple: training not only stresses the body, it stresses the mind. Learning how to manage this latter aspect will reap huge benefits for anyone.
One of the best ways to address the mental stresses of training is to have clearly established, realistic goals for yourself. For example, are you trying to run a certain amount of miles at a target pace? If so, is the target realistic for you? Or, are you trying to run a certain distance without stopping, regardless of pace? Whatever the case may be, this process will require that we not lie to the person in the mirror. An honest assessment of our performance isn’t possible unless we engage in an honest pursuit of realistic goals. What are yours? Take some time to think about it.
Setting specific goals means you might sometimes miss. That’s okay. Learn from the experience. Ask yourself, was the goal realistic? What can I do differently in the future? Don’t dwell on it. Chalk it up to experience and move on. Remain positive.
Once you have established what your goals are, and why you want to achieve them, then you will have a clear path to help you navigate the more challenging aspects of training and racing. Chances are, what motivates you is not what motivates the person next to you. We all have our own personal goals, milestones we’re trying to reach, and reasons for doing what we’re doing. The reason you began this journey in the first place is probably a story that is uniquely yours. Never forget what that is. Embrace it.
Remember: no two journeys are alike. Don’t get caught in the mind game of comparing yourself to others; it’s an exercise in futility. Remember where you came from, where you are trying to go, why you are going there, and how you plan to get there.
“A goal is a dream with a plan.” Chris McCormack, 2-time Hawaii Ironman World Champion.
Don’t forget to reward yourself from time to time. This journey is not easy. Take some time to reflect on your achievements, and carry what lessons you learn into your future, wherever it takes you.
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned runner you may find you often compare your athletic abilities to others and in turn, lose sight of your own abilities or rather, capabilities. You know you are doing this when you have negative mind chatter. For example, “I don’t run as fast as he does” and “I can never run as far as they run” or “I’m not good at this, look at all these people passing me”. Sound familiar?The next time you catch yourself comparing your running performance to someone else, step back from that mind set and refocus with the words,“Run to Your Own Rhythm” andshiftyour attention from negative thoughts to positive ones. When we negative-self talk and our attention is focused on other people youdeplete and expend the energy needed to perform strong. In order tokeep energy steady and strong, focus and attention must be centered and directed at the self.This is a time to literally be “self-centered”but in a good way! Once youconnect to the center of yourself, yourelaxand allow your natural ability to flow andyourun to our own rhythm. Essentially, when you run to your own rhythm you acknowledge your potential and focus on what you can do instead of what you think you cannot do.
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