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Writer's pictureKaterina Panagi

Mind Games

Running is just about one foot in front of the other most days. Until the day you ask said foot attached to a fatigued leg to hit the road for just a bit longer or perhaps your lungs to breathe just a bit harder for a new speed.


We all have tough runs where we want to quit – give up and head home to wallow in self-pity. In this situation, it is all mind over matter. We all know that we feel better after a run, we just have to get out there and get it done.

We all play mind games at times. Whether we are trying to break down our Sunday long run, get through a tough session, or push ourselves in a race. There are plenty of different methods athletes employ. These help us to keep pushing when it hurts most, or when our mind isn’t quite feeling it.


When it all just flows.


On the easy days, it’s simple. We just run and absolutely nothing goes through our heads. We are able to lock onto the session or race we are in and become completely consumed by it. Our heads don’t seem to get distracted by the pain or what else we have to do in the day.


We are completely fixated on getting the job done to the best of our ability. On days like this, motivation is sky high and it feels as though you are flying. Unfortunately, these days don’t come very often, and you can’t always choose when they do arrive.


Other days, it isn’t quite so simple, and your mind struggles to shut off. Before you have even started the session, you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by what needs to be done. If we all caved in and accepted defeat every time our mind told us it was difficult and hurts or we weren’t feeling intensely motivated we wouldn’t get much running banked at all.

For me, for shorter sessions and races there is sometimes less need for mind games, you are too busy thinking about race tactics and giving your all. The distance is over before you have had time to register what you are doing. This isn’t necessarily the same for the longer distances.


Enjoyment is key


For some, the trick is simply enjoyment. The best way to trick your mind on those longer runs, tough sessions or important races, is to enjoy what you are doing and remember all the hard work you have put in thus far. If you remind yourself that you are doing this because you love the sport, it won’t seem such a chore on the days you feel demotivated. Think of all the countless times your love for the sport has been your driving force to keep going and, push on.


Recently, I’ve been strengthening my mind by pushing myself to run when it’s raining or very windy, or even extremely warm. The easy option would be to run another time but I think this is an important part of the training. I’ve also been doing tough morning runs.


Working on my mental game has been one of the factors that has brought about the biggest change in how I run during races. Give it a try to see if it will work for you!


Instead of letting your mind run through the list of things you need to do after your run or whatever is stressing you out at work, try to present. 


Focus your thoughts and eyes on your surroundings. Tune in with the beauty of nature or the architecture on your run.  This way of running is a form of mindfulness, which will not only help those 70-second minutes slip back down to 50, but it can also help you feel more relaxed in your everyday life.


Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves to be seen!

Success is not final; failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue the counts.

-Winston Churchill-


When you get discouraged with where you are, take a look at where you started and see how far you’ve actually come. The key to being a good runner is having mental and physical perseverance.


This is why training your brain to run is just as important as training your body. Because never forget, the body will do whatever the mind tells it. So if you can adopt a strong mental game, then you will be able to make it through any run.


Running is hard and you are going to get fatigued and that's when at some point you will probably start to question why you ever started in the first place.


Running is hard, but it also gives you an amazing feeling of accomplishment when you tough it out.  And when all else fails, just remember to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving.

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