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Jun
23
Using mental power in a race can be an excellent way to cripple the competition, but when you allow yourself to be crippled by other people you will lose. I have found many ways to use my mind in races and practices to help me reach my potential. I hope these will work for you:
- Plan your race ahead of time. Planning your race out in your head (even better on paper!) is a helpful way to keep you on track. Knowing when to speed up and when to attack makes it so that you can focus on form and breathing. Having a race plan also gives you confidence in what you do during the race.
- Tell yourself that you can do it. When you tell yourself that you are not tired and can speed up, then you are more likely to speed up. Focusing on the negative things means you are not focused on the important things. If you find yourself thinking negatively, snap yourself back on track! Relax and set your mind on breathing and form. Breathing and form are the best things to focus on during a race because they help you stay calm and help you run more efficiently.
- Bargain with yourself. Tell yourself that when you get to that certain turn or rock or tree that you will give yourself a break. Split your race up into sections and tell yourself what you will do during the next section. During a 5k your might say “I have 2 more miles to go. I can run a mile really fast, so I will run this next mile hard and see how it goes.” Giving deals to yourself will help you push your body.
- Focus! Keeping your mind on the task at hand is the most important thing you can do as an athlete. Do not let your mind wander, and when you catch yourself wandering away from the race, slap your mind into shape! Focus not only on your breathing and form, but on your pace and your place in the race. If you have goals set, which I highly recommend, think of those goals and push yourself to meet and break them.
These tips should be used at your practices as well as races. You would not race without practicing your running, do not go into a race without mentally exercising too.
“Once you’re beat mentally, you might as well not even go to the starting line.”
- Todd Williams
This quote is very much true. Any racer who does not have the will to win, will not win.
Go give yourself a mental sweat.
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About
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This is my blog where I write about running, training, races, and anything else running related. Because I run for Mountain View High School I may write about my team and opposing teams in the Treasure Valley. Everything written in this blog is my personal opinion and does not reflect the views of my coaches, my teammates, or my school.