Hurt Like a Pro
Watch any video of an Olympic race and you'll notice runners with perfect form. If you look closer, especially toward the end of the race, you'll see effort and pain etched into the faces of these athletes.
The pros know that racing doesn't get easier; they just get faster. Professional racers not only anticipate pain during a long-distance race, they welcome it. These runners know that discomfort is part of the process in getting from point A to point B as fast as possible.
To get better at pushing yourself during a race, remind yourself why you are. When the pain sets in, all athletes are tempted to back off the pace to stay comfortable. The athletes who have cue words and mantras are the ones who push through to the finish.
Your mantras can be personal and should be words like "courage," "strength," "fire" or even a specific image like a lion or tiger or warrior that you visualize when the pain sets in. One pro runner (and mom) used the word "childbirth" to get her through the tough sections of the race, reminding herself that no pain lasts forever and that it often bears fruit to something meaningful.
Before your next race, adopt these habits to get the most out of your running.
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