I am not much of a "why" runner. Even during my 100milers I haven't had a specific "why" in my head that I could rely on to pull me out of the dark place.
I have used some other tactics.
Words from a book that I have listened to on some of my long training run. Wim Hoffs' "breath motherf*%ker breath" being repeated millions of times on Ultra Trail Drakensberg in 2021.
Otherwise reverting to singing....which I am really bad at😂.
I think I have just been lucky to get through some tough runs with the support of friends and family.
Then I ran Comrades a week ago and I learnt the true value of the "why" and it came in the way of a simple word heard in passing.
At our 4km ran the day before Comrades a friend was saying goodbye and wishing us all well on our run. As he walk off he turned and said: "Don't forget to be grateful!"
Well for some reason it really resonated with me. I thought about it for the rest of the day and mentioned it to my running companion at the start.
I decided to focus on being grateful. Every-time my mind shifted to anything negative I consciously focused on what I had to be grateful for.
Turns out there was a whole lot.
My health and simply being able to run.
My amazing friends and family.
My running club, out in force to support us.
My sight...which I realized when I ran past a blind runner.
The weather, race organization and so the list goes on.
Towards the 85km mark I admittedly was having to pull on the grateful strategy a whole lot more. To the point that I was grateful that the distance markers on had one digit on them (Comrades distance markers count down to be zero).
I crossed the line after running one of my best races mentally. I absolutely loved it. I was emotional running into the stadium - absolutely grateful that I had been able to run such a positive race.
I learnt the value in shifting your focus from the negative through to to something more positive - this should be your why/the word or phrase that reminds you of this
Make sure you don't allow your mind to wallow in the negativity when you run. Focus on the positive and all you have to be grateful for!
As part of your training don't forget that your mind will need to be mentally strong to get you through your endurance event. Make sure this is included into your training plan.
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