Many think that the hardest moment of a race is when you are in it, but for other people the hardest moment is during the moments leading up to the race.
Regardless of your case, do not let negative thoughts defeat you prematurely. Know the 6 mental tricks to face a tough running competition : this way you will be able to complete your career more easily. You just have to implement a strategy of positive thoughts that help you reach your goal without fewer setbacks.
6 mental tricks to face a running workout
1. Repeat a motivational phrase
When going out for a run, many runners implement a technique that consists of repeating a motivating phrase or a mantra, this helps people feel motivated to achieve their goals.
You must start by visualizing your goal and connecting it with a thought that inspires motivation, this will help you in a very positive way. Another technique can be to think of a rival runner that you consider to be the hardest to defeat, all with the same purpose: to come out of the race as the winner.
2. Listen to music
Music will always help you feel motivated and keep things under control. Therefore, a great recommendation in this regard is to listen to music during a race .
Save a playlist with your favorite songs, those that give you motivation in the hardest moments. Although it sounds very cliché, music is the motivation of every athlete.
Try to come up with high-spirited songs that give you positive thoughts and encourage you to go through with it, as slow-paced songs can make you feel less motivated when training.
3. Meet people during the race
All runners know how tough a race can be, so it is very important to find the best possible company during the course.
The best thing you can do is get another runner, at least so that you feel accompanied for a few kilometers. But, if you find it very difficult to find a person to go for a run with you, then it is time to use technology: a phone call with the help of a Bluetooth headset may be more than enough.
4. Divide the race into several stages
If the final goal of your journey is too difficult to complete, then this technique is the one for you.
For example, if your arrival point is a park, which is very far away, then find a slightly closer arrival point, such as a gas station. After reaching the first point of the section (the gas station), try to concentrate to get the best of you to reach the end (the park).
5. Think of a reward
A good system that you can implement is to think of a reward, this will serve as motivation to complete the training.
For example, if you complete the 10 kilometers you had planned, you can eat that piece of cake that you want so much. If you manage to complete an extra kilometer or two, you can visit your favorite breakfast spot.
6. Use the smile technique
If your day did not start in the best way, you woke up in a bad mood or had a problem during the day, this will affect you when training.
All negative thoughts and feelings of stress will affect your motivation, making your journey that much more difficult to complete. Eliud Kipchoge, an Olympic gold medalist, often relies on the smile technique during races . He says it helps him relax and work against physical pain. Even experts in the field recommend this technique.
conclusion
A running workout can be very difficult and exhausting, perhaps equal to or more than a race. For this reason, it is very important to train in the best possible way, maintaining a good level of motivation, which will help you stay in optimal physical condition.
This series of tips will help you meet your goal, which is to complete a tough running workout. Several of them used by novice runners and also experts in the field.
References
- Megan, H. Mental Tricks to Get You Through a Tough Run. For Active [Revised April 2019].
