Every Tuesday I am joining a link up with MCM Mamma Runs, Run the Great Wide Somewhere and My No Guilt Life. You can find out more about the link up here.
This weeks topic: Mantras!
When things get tough during a run there are a few things I often repeat to myself to keep myself going:
- “You got this, you got this” – Simple. But it works! I repeat it until the discomfort goes away or my mind drifts. 🙂
- When I saw Shalane Flanagan speak at the Heartbreak Hill Festival she said that she often “yells” at her legs to keep them going. I have incorporated this a bit, by thinking “Come on legs, suck it up” when I feel uncomfortable while running – usually during tempo runs or speedwork.
- I also do a TON of mental math games in my head during long runs to keep me going. During this past weekends 15 miler I kept telling myself it was “only 2 miles more than a half”, and counting down to milestones: “1/3rd of the way done! ” “Half way there” “Under 10 miles left, you’ve got this!” “Less than a 5k left, you can do that easy peasy.” I find not focusing on the WHOLE long distance at once is really helpful.
Running mantras also help me get out the door and into my run. Pinterest is a great source if you need some motivation.
My favorite mantra to get me out the door is “You never regret a run/workout that you do, but you always regret the one you skip.”
Obviously this is a generalization that doesn’t take injuries or other things into account, but I find it super helpful (and super true). I even have “Never regret a run” on my RoadID. 🙂
One of my instructors at the gym is awesome with the mantras – she reminds us that “you have to feel uncomfortable to get results” and “anything that’s hard is worth it”.
The last thing I do to motivate myself isn’t a mantra but is simply to remind myself of how great I will feel post-run or post-workout. Most of the time that coupled with a few mantras while I’m out running is enough to get me out the door and keep me going til I hit my mileage goal for the day.
What’s your favorite running mantra?
I'm a wife, runner, vegetarian, mommy of two cute kitties, an 
Diary of a slow runner 
I have a lot of things I say to myself to keep going. Sometimes it’s tough talk like “don’t be a wuss” and sometimes its encouraging talk, like “you’ve done this before, you can do it again”. Other times it’s focus talk, “knees and elbows”, “in and out (breathing)”. 😀
haha “don’t be a wuss” is pretty good and convincing. 😉
I really like the mantra “The only run you regret is the one you skip.” I say that often on days I don’t feel like running, but of course always feel better once I’m done.
Love that one!
Mantras do sound cheesy but they help! Sometimes I chant, “You can do hard things…” when I want to quit.
They totally do help! That is a good mantra!
I love that so many people have their mantras on their roadID. I had custom badges printed for mine. One says Focus. One says Suck It Up and one says Buttercup. But the Suck It Up one fell off so now my roadID says Focus Buttercup which has a Karate Kid feel to me, LOL. Thanks for linking up with us today!
haha Focus Buttercup. Hey whatever works right? 🙂
I have visualized a treat at the end of runs to just get it done!
Works wonders!!
That is smart! Food is a great motivator. 🙂
I am a mantra-less runner so I’m spending this TotR checking out other people’s so I can create one of my own. I have to admit I’m grooving on ‘Focus Buttercup’
haha buttercup is such a fun word I think. Good luck in your search!
Mine is simple and a la Kara Goucher, “Believe.”
Love it!
I love this! I need a running mantra so I’m going to keep these in mind. So true about never regretting a run!
Thanks!
Great mantras! I totally break every run into manageable bits! Thanks for linking up with us!