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I was at an event recently for the release of Let Your Mind Run, a new book from Olympic marathon medalist Deena Kastor, when she mentioned that her favorite part of running 26.2 comes the moment she starts to struggle. “When I get there, my first thought is, ‘Oh no,'” she says. “But then I remember, this is where I get to do my best work. This is where I get to shine and to be better than the person I am in this moment. I get to push my physical boundaries and my mental limits, so I really have fun in those moments.”
Of course, some thoughts of assignments and unchecked tasks still entered my brain. But this experiment was reminding me that running doesn't always require a set goal. It can just provide a moment for myself, a way to work on my fitness (mental and physical) without worrying about all the things I need to accomplish. I can start out slow and forget about my pace, just reveling in the idea of putting one foot in front of the other.
What helped even more was speaking with Puddicombe about the power of paying attention to your body and what each step brings. From him, I learned just how helpful it is to recognize the discomfort of a long, hard run, but not let that destroy the entire workout. That includes letting the thought of tired legs or tight shoulders pass through my mind-and right out the other side, so I can keep a bird's-eye view on all the good things about the run.
How Mindful Running Taught Me That I'm Stronger Than I Think
I really put this negative-turned-positive mentality to the test when I set out to reach a 5K PR just last week. (A 2018 goal of mine is to break a few of my own records in races.) I went to the start line with a pace of under 9-minute miles in mind. I ended up averaging 7:59 and finishing in 24:46. What's so great, though, is that I actually remember a particular moment during mile three, where I brushed off a "you can't do this" thought. "I feel like I'm going to die, and I think I need to slow down," I said to myself, but I immediately responded with, "but I'm not, because I'm running comfortably hard and strong." This really made me smile mid-race because, previously, I would have let that one negative thought spiral into "why did you decide to do this?" or "maybe you should take a break from running after this is over."
This new positive thought process made me want to get back out on the road for not only more races (and faster times) but also for more casual miles where I can just focus on me and my body. I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to the type of mid-run struggle Kastor speaks of, but I am excited to see how I can continue to strengthen my mind right alongside my legs.
