The mental part of the sport matters!

 Running is a sport where being mentally strong is as important as being physically strong. It’s easy to fall into the trap of putting pressure on yourself when you are dedicating a lot of time to training and competing. As an athlete myself, it has taken me years to improve my mental racing strategy.  If you are nervous when you compete, that’s normal. It means you care. Sometimes we care so much that when we don’t reach our goals we become very self deprecating. I see this behavior at every level I coach. All runners are different. Some of us are motivated by bad races. Others are defeated and have trouble picking up and moving on to the next race.  If you aren’t addressing the mental side of the sport, then, you are going to have a hard time reaching your fullest potential. For years I was self destructive when I raced because I put so much pressure on myself. After years of practice, I approach every race with the attitude that I am going to give my best effort no matter what happens.  Approaching your races with gratitude, confidence, and calmness, will help you compete at a higher level. When you step on the starting line, take a deep breath and remember this sport is supposed to be fun. There is nothing wrong with you if you have a bad race. You are not a disappointment and one day doesn’t define your entire running career. Remember why you run in the first place and do your best to continue train and compete mentally relaxed. Good luck! *Spewak Training coaches are accepting new clients. Please feel free to reach out to us contact@spewaktraining.com to learn more about our training services.*