19 Replies to “Combat Excuses and Run Mentally Tough Even When Things Suck”
Great post! When it comes to nasty weather, I tell myself that it is just another race condition I’m preparing for- after all, I wouldn’t skip a race because its windy/raining, so why would I let it affect a workout? As far as a race where I had mental toughness…my last college race was a last chance meet. It was a long shot to qualify for nationals and I ended up in no-man’s land between the fast lead pack and the slower runners. It was tough, and I didn’t qualify, but I didn’t let myself quit or give up.
Love this post. I have to be honest – my brain rarely wants to give up. I find my body wants to quick before my mind lol. I hate those runs where my legs don’t show up and I always tell myself that for every “bad” run, a great run is on the horizon for the next day. I usually push my legs through the bad runs or simply allow myself to cross train and/or slow the pace when it is clear my body isn’t in cooperation with my mind’s desire to keep going. I really try to listen to my body to the best of my ability…as for a great race that displayed just how tough I am, I recently ran the Fitness Mag Women’s Half in NYC and not only PRed, but ran it with an injured shoulder that almost kept me out of the race completely. It was a rough taper week of not knowing if I would be able to run that race but my legs were game, my mind was game and my arm (all KT Taped) hung in for the win as well. I was very proud of myself.
glad u like this post. 🙂 way to rock that half…talk about mentally tough on all levels! i’ll bet that PR felt even sweeter…well, minus the shoulder feeling. 😉
I needed this this week 🙂 I am in a definite slump mode and am not sure where my legs are, but they’re not attached to my mind when I’m running! I know I’ll get back into a positive stride but in the mean time, this is a nice reminder. Thanks 🙂
You know what? SUCK at listening to my bod and taking into account things like heat. Some days I will push through by hook or by crook, and some days I slow to a crawl.
I wish I knew more about ho often to go ‘hard’ and what ‘hard’ really means.
my two cents would be to aim for two quality workouts a week with easy days between. hard is hard to quantify…haha…but think on a scale of 1-10 you’re hitting an 8-9. it’s definitely working, but not every session should be at race level effort either. oh the ever-ambigosity of running. 😛
When my legs don’t show up…I guess I just make my head work harder. Unless something is really ringing the warning bells physically, I know I’m committed to doing the workout, so I might as well get it done!
I can remember a small, local, 2-loop 5K quite a few years ago – I was running in 3rd place after the first loop. I set out on the second and reeled in the second place girl by staying steady and strong. I was coming up on the first place girl in the last 3/4 of a mile…which we ran ON THE BEACH. I was so close to just tucking in behind her and finishing strong in second place. But some competitive gear clicked, I pretended that I just! loved! running in the sand, and I gunned it to the end. It wasn’t the time or the place that made the race memorable – but the fact that I had an easy out that I chose NOT to take, and pushed all the way to the end, under conditions I don’t really like, even when I didn’t want to. I still whip that memory out when the going gets tough some days! 🙂
It seems like the days I am not really feeling the run but do it anyways, I always tend to run longer and faster!! I guess it is my mind and body’s way of showing me who is boss!
I hate the treadmill, so I run in almost any weather conditions. The only time I don’t is if it’s dangerous (i.e. chance of tornadoes, bad lightning, snow/ice making it dangerous to run on the road with cars)
Great post! When it comes to nasty weather, I tell myself that it is just another race condition I’m preparing for- after all, I wouldn’t skip a race because its windy/raining, so why would I let it affect a workout? As far as a race where I had mental toughness…my last college race was a last chance meet. It was a long shot to qualify for nationals and I ended up in no-man’s land between the fast lead pack and the slower runners. It was tough, and I didn’t qualify, but I didn’t let myself quit or give up.
no man’s land is BRUTAL…great job on staying mentally in it and fighting! 🙂
Love this post. I have to be honest – my brain rarely wants to give up. I find my body wants to quick before my mind lol. I hate those runs where my legs don’t show up and I always tell myself that for every “bad” run, a great run is on the horizon for the next day. I usually push my legs through the bad runs or simply allow myself to cross train and/or slow the pace when it is clear my body isn’t in cooperation with my mind’s desire to keep going. I really try to listen to my body to the best of my ability…as for a great race that displayed just how tough I am, I recently ran the Fitness Mag Women’s Half in NYC and not only PRed, but ran it with an injured shoulder that almost kept me out of the race completely. It was a rough taper week of not knowing if I would be able to run that race but my legs were game, my mind was game and my arm (all KT Taped) hung in for the win as well. I was very proud of myself.
glad u like this post. 🙂 way to rock that half…talk about mentally tough on all levels! i’ll bet that PR felt even sweeter…well, minus the shoulder feeling. 😉
I needed this this week 🙂 I am in a definite slump mode and am not sure where my legs are, but they’re not attached to my mind when I’m running! I know I’ll get back into a positive stride but in the mean time, this is a nice reminder. Thanks 🙂
ahh, the runner motivation ebbs and flows, but u know it’ll always come back! 🙂
You know what? SUCK at listening to my bod and taking into account things like heat. Some days I will push through by hook or by crook, and some days I slow to a crawl.
I wish I knew more about ho often to go ‘hard’ and what ‘hard’ really means.
my two cents would be to aim for two quality workouts a week with easy days between. hard is hard to quantify…haha…but think on a scale of 1-10 you’re hitting an 8-9. it’s definitely working, but not every session should be at race level effort either. oh the ever-ambigosity of running. 😛
When my legs don’t show up…I guess I just make my head work harder. Unless something is really ringing the warning bells physically, I know I’m committed to doing the workout, so I might as well get it done!
I can remember a small, local, 2-loop 5K quite a few years ago – I was running in 3rd place after the first loop. I set out on the second and reeled in the second place girl by staying steady and strong. I was coming up on the first place girl in the last 3/4 of a mile…which we ran ON THE BEACH. I was so close to just tucking in behind her and finishing strong in second place. But some competitive gear clicked, I pretended that I just! loved! running in the sand, and I gunned it to the end. It wasn’t the time or the place that made the race memorable – but the fact that I had an easy out that I chose NOT to take, and pushed all the way to the end, under conditions I don’t really like, even when I didn’t want to. I still whip that memory out when the going gets tough some days! 🙂
SO awesome!! right there, there is always that moment in a race where u choose to fight or ‘settle’…u fought! 🙂
It seems like the days I am not really feeling the run but do it anyways, I always tend to run longer and faster!! I guess it is my mind and body’s way of showing me who is boss!
haha…it’s like ur mind gets running and has to make of point of pushing ur body just a bit more those days. 😉
I hate the treadmill, so I run in almost any weather conditions. The only time I don’t is if it’s dangerous (i.e. chance of tornadoes, bad lightning, snow/ice making it dangerous to run on the road with cars)
haha…ya, i’ve run outside in some pretty crazy places and weather conditions. 😛
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