Karl Meltzer
Winner of more 100-mile races than any other runner
"One thing I always tell myself if I'm not feeling so well or not doing so well, is, 'Who gets to do this? I'm in the woods or mountains while other people are at work. I'm playing around!'"
Ian Sharman
Winner of the 2013 Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run and holder of the fastest 100-mile trail time in the U.S. (12 hours, 44 minutes)
"If someone is on my heels or just ahead, then I keep repeating in my head, 'Just keep pushing.' It stops me from easing off even a little bit so that if I slow or if the terrain gets easier, I kick it up a notch. Having someone close in a race like that is the biggest motivator for me near the end of a race like Western States."
"When I feel exhausted and there's still so far to go, I remind myself that this is what all the hard training is for--to be able to close out races and not fade. I repeat to myself that this is where the memories will be made and that I can either look back on it and know I gave up or look back and know I gave it everything."
Annie Bersagel
2013 U.S. National Marathon Champion and 2014 winner of the Dusseldorf Marathon
"One phrase my college coach, Annie Bennett, taught me is 'calm confidence.' It's a helpful mantra for the starting line and in the first few miles."
Craig Leon
2010 winner of the Eugene Marathon, 2013 winner of the Mississippi Blues Marathon, 2:13:53 marathon personal best
"I'll focus on a lyric or line to a particular song and might replay that in my head along with the song's beat as a way of keeping a certain cadence."
"I also find myself repeating a lot of the cues that my coach will say to me during a workout, like, 'Relax, light hands, head forward, quick feet.'"
Ryan Vail
First U.S. finisher at the 2013 ING New York City Marathon, 2:10:57 marathon personal best, four-time member of the USA Cross Country Team
"My positive self-talk has been focused on breaking the race down into smaller segments. My mantra has been, 'One more mile.' While 10 or 15 kilometers may seem impossible, one mile is always achievable. You usually end up surprising yourself with how long you can maintain this strategy. As I get closer to the finish, the segments become smaller. One more mile or one more minute, whatever it takes."
Sign up for your next race.
- 2
- of
- 2
About the Author
Get ACTIVE on the Go
Couch to 5K®
The best way to get new runners off the couch and across the finish line of their first 5K.
Available for iOS | Android
Discuss This Article