What do you think about when thinking is hard?
Endurance running requires more than physical fitness. When you run a long distance, your focus might drift to fatigue, discomfort, or doubt.
Running takes mental characteristics such as resilience, tenacity, courage, and motivation. Successful marathoning is a mindset.
You wouldn’t leave home without planning your running route. Don’t leave home without a plan for what to think about when thinking gets hard.
Knowing that the mind might drift toward negative thoughts, many runners use mantras—short phrases or words that they repeat to stay motivated, focused, and positive.
Benefits of Mantras
There are four benefits for mantras.
- Mental Focus: Mantras quiet the mind, reduce distractions, and channel your attention toward your goal.
- Motivation: When the going gets tough, mantras act as self-talk. They remind you of your strength, resilience, and ability to push through challenging moments.
- Positive Reinforcement: Mantras reinforce belief in your abilities. They ground you, providing a sense of purpose and determination.
- Calming Effect: Repeating mantras during tough times calms the brain. It shifts the focus away from the challenging situation and back to your goal.
Examples of Mantras
Here are five of my favorite mantras:
- “Run and have fun.” My most important goal at every run and race is to play.
- “My race, my pace.” I can only run my race. I can’t worry about everyone else.
- “Run the mile you’re in.” There’s nothing you’re going to do about the last mile you ran. It’s not time to run your next mile. The only mile that matters is the mile you’re in. Sometimes, I switch that up to “be here now.”
- “I do tough things.” You’ve been here before. You know how to get through this.
- “Do what you can.” Sometimes, when I don’t know whether I can hit my goal at the end of a race, I’ll simply say, “Do what you can.” As long as I do all that I can, the results don’t matter.
Surprisingly, these mantras work well, not just in running but in life in general.
What about you? What mantras do you use in running and life?
Tony Loyd
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Favorite Grandma’s Marathon Memory:In 2022, I was scheduled to run Grandma’s Marathon. Unfortunately, I suffered a stress fracture in my left ankle in May, so I was out of the race. I decided to come to Duluth anyway. How could I miss Grandma Marathon weekend? There’s nothing else like it in the world.
I could take full advantage of the weekend because I was not stressed about resting for race day. I took my time and explored the expo. I had a chance to meet some of my running heroes. FOX25 interviewed me. I had a blast.
On race day, I saw the race as a spectator. I had a chance to see what others see, a never-ending parade of inspiring individuals, from elite athletes to the back of the pack. The looks on their faces told a story of months of sacrifice that led to this one day, Grandma’s Marathon. It was inspiring!
Quote that guides, inspires, or embodies your training, racing, or life: My race, my pace. It doesn’t matter what pace everyone else is running. This is my race, and I run it at my pace. This applies to Grandma’s Marathon and to life.
Song that must be on your running playlist: If I said murder mystery podcasts, would you be horrified?
Reason you absolutely won’t run outside: If there is a health and safety issue, I head inside. Lightning, poor air quality, temperatures that instantly freeze your skin – things like that.
2024 running goal: If my training goes well, I hope to run a 3:26 marathon. That will automatically qualify me for the AbbottWMM Wanda Age Group World Championships.
Three words to describe your training, racing, or life: Run and have fun. OK, that’s four words. What can I say? I’m a rebel.