I firmly believe that mental strength, just like your physical and aerobic strength, is something that you can work on and train. Anyone who knew me before I started running will probably tell you I wasn’t someone you’d immediately identify as being a mentally strong, “dig deep” kind of a guy! Even now, I’d still rather find the easier, less painful, but not quite 100% way of getting through life – apart from when running, that is!
If you want to be the best you can be as an endurance runner, you need to work on your mental strength. Just like any other form of training, the best way to improve is to repeat, progress and learn what works for you.
At the end of a marathon or ultra when things start getting tough, I personally question the logic in NOT giving 100%. If, like me, you have dedicated the last few months to this one target race – getting out the door on all those early morning runs, laying off the beers, eating really healthily – why on earth would you not be willing to suffer another hour to make it all worthwhile?
The combination of reflecting on all those months of hard work and also the post-race satisfaction of sitting in the pub knowing I gave my all puts that small period in between, where I’ve got to put myself in the pain zone for an hour, a bit of a no-brainer.
The next time you finish a race, ask yourself honestly whether you gave it your best. If the answer is “no”, remember that feeling and dig deeper next time.
