We all know that most anything in life is really more about what goes on in our head, not our body. The head can override the body — for good or bad.
I’m sharing five tips from the book “Mind Gym” (Amazon affiliate link here) to help you with your mental toughness.
I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Runs with Pugs, Zenaida and Run Laugh Eat Pie for Fit Five Friday. Today I’m sharing 5 ways to work on your mental game — whether you’re returning to racing — or not!
1: Confident
Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you’re right!
In other words, believe in yourself, your capabilities, and your training
2: Control
Focus on what you can control:
- Your thoughts
- Your fueling
- Your hydrating
Let go of what you can’t control:
- The course
- The weather
- The people around you
Just don’t give any energy to the things you can’t control, pour it all into what you can control
3: Courage
It’s so easy to give into our inner critic:
It’s too hilly. It’s too hot, cold, windy, rainy. I may as well just give up, I’m never going to hit my goal anyway.
There are very few races — if any — that go completely our way. There’s almost always something we have to overcome. That takes courage.
I remember more than one race where I thought I had run too slow to ever meet my goal, only to realize towards the end that I still could — if I dug deep and had courage.
In other words:
Never give up
4: Consistent
This one is about training, not actual racing — but it’s important. I think it’s one of my superpowers, and I’ve always said that if I’m going to race, I’m going to train for it. Not because of PRs (although that’s nice, of course), but because it actually gives me that confidence, knowing that I have shown up, and done the work. Knowing that my body is prepared to race and therefore much less likely to get injured.
5: Competitive
You don’t have to be an elite athlete — or even a fast runner — to use competitiveness to your advantage. Even if you’re DFL (dead frickin’ last). All you need is a rabbit to chase. I know I often do better when I’m chasing a runner who is just a little faster than I am!
Final Thoughts
You don’t have to be trying for a certain time, a PR, or qualifying for a race to put the 5 Cs into play. Even if the race is more about fun than racing, I promise you, you’re going to have a better experience if you work on the 5 Cs!
How is your mental game these days?
Which of the 5 Cs do you need to work on? Letting go of the things I can’t control for me
Can you think of any Cs to add to this list?
Chocolaterunsjudy 
These are great, especially as we start to return to racing. I think virtual races have challenged me in a different way so Im not sure how I will do when I run a real race again. I agree that its a good idea to train so you have that confidence going into a race. I learned that lesson with me last virtual race!
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It’s been a whisince I’ve even done a virtual Apparently I try to hibernate through winter.
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I actually think I have these. Although I can always get better.
To me being consistent is not training but just getting out there four times a week even if the weather sucks or I feel like crap. Running always improves my day.
I’m pretty courageous. I just ran up a mountain without hill trading ran a marathon at age 67.
Lately I have decided to ditch the watch and not worry about time. Let’s see how the competitive me stays non competitive. It certainly more fun running slower.
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Everyone can always improve.
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These are awesome. I’ve struggle with my mental strength in regards to running since moving south. The humidity is impossible to run in for me.
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Humidity sucks the life out of me, although I’ve pulled off some good races in it. And totally crashed & burned in others.
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I can totally relate!!
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I absolutely understand how running is a mind game, I’ve written about it on many occasions. It’s so important to focus on all five things you mentioned; I think the toughest would be confidence for me. That one can really get in my head sometimes.
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I think most of the time (not always) I’m fairly confident. At least in the beginning, LOL!
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Despite being pretty consistent with my training, I do need to work on my confidence when it comes to races. As Denise said, I can definitely get in my head.
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I think everyone can get in their head sometimes!
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I read a quote a few years back that said something like, you cannot always control your first thought but you can control your next one”. It stuck with me!
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I like that! Have often used the same sort of thing like every meal is an option to the next right thing.
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How about calm? That is something I can use when I’m racing!
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That’s a great one, Wendy!
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You’ve hit on everything here 😉 I really think “control” is the big one….ultimately, we all have control of some things. It’s far better to capitalize on what we can control than dwell on what we cannot.
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Then there’s controlling how fast you start too. It’s been so long for me, that could be a real problem!
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Love these! so glad these days I can really keep up with and do a fine job with the 5 C’s!
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Awesome, Renee!
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Confidence is what I need to work on. I am training for my first HM, again. I psych myself out by doing things like noting how far 13.1 miles is from my house….like it’s really close to 13.1 miles to a certain exit on the interstate (which feels like a really, really long way and takes about 20 minutes to drive on the narrow country roads).
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Run the mile you’re in!
Seriously, yes, 13.1 miles is a long way. That’s why you train. And run the mile you’re in has gotten me through many races.
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Thanks. I’ll have to remember that.
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Great post! Thanks for sharing these with us. I am consistent in my running but need to work on the other ones.
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You are very consistent!
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