Mantra Maker

So, I got a little excited last night when I found a facebook listing of Running Mantras.  I haven't picked my own yet, but I totally see the point of them!  ---and then I got REALLY excited when this HTML clueless girl figured out how to make a Scrolling Mantra List for my blog (see lower right sidebar)!  Here are some tips that I thought were helpful:

From:  Runner's World


Mantra Maker
How to put together your perfect phrase

Keep it short
Your mantra should be an affirmation, not a novel. "When you're tired, you don't want something elaborate," says Stephen Walker. "It's too hard to remember." Keep it to five seconds or less.

Stay positive
Think of the problem you're trying to counteract and turn it around. "If you're feeling weak, your mantra should be I am strong," says Walker.

Make it energetic
Your mantra should center on action verbs or strong adjectives, not abstract phrases, says Robert J. Bell. Look for words that convey energy, like "fast," "strong," or "power."

Embed instructions
Use the mantra to remind yourself what you plan to do or how you want to feel as you're running, says Walker. Now is the time; go for it. Or, Run relaxed. Finish strong.


BUILD IT, BELIEVE IT, BECOME IT
Choose one word from each section below to create a motivational, get-it-done power chant.

A
Run
Go
Stride
Sprint
Be 

B
Strong
Fast
Quick
Light
Fierce

C
Think
Feel 
Embrace
Be
Hold

D
Power
Speed
Brave
Bold
Courage

Mind Games (2)- Carrie's Tricks

For a long run, one thing I do (and I don't even know if I can explain it well!) is I try to maintain the thought that I have just begun the run and still feel fresh. For example, during really, really long runs (including marathon day) I count "up" the miles as each is completed. Rather than thinking "I have 10 more miles to go" I try to think to myself that I'm heading towards mile 17, keeping a forward motion instead of a countdown. Near the end of a run it's difficult to NOT feel a little antsy just to be done. By holding back mentally and feeling like I've just begun, my patience remains in tact and I can enjoy the run better.

And you certainly can't go wrong with good music! I regularly do zumba and have quite a few of our zumba songs on my ipod. Then I can go through the song's zumba routine in my mind and at that point mentally I am in the zumba class...not running in thr pouring rain!


Thank You Carrie!  


What are YOUR tricks?  Click on the "Mind Games" link in the right column to share your secrets!  Thanks!!

Mind Games- (1)

A friend once told me that running was as much as a mental exercise as a physical exercise.  That advice has proven itself over and over again in my training and learning how to run!  That's what helped me make it through the C25K program.  Going from an 8 minute run to a 20 minute run was quite the jump for an un-athletic person that could never run more than a 1/4 mile in my life!  And now that advice is going to help me get to the half marathon!  I'm going to need a lot of tricks to get me through that!

A Peek My Bag of Tricks:

• Focus on something other than the run- like planning an event that you are excited about, or listening to music
• Just make it to a certain point nearby- a stop sign, a tree, a car.  When you get there, pick another point- divide your run into managable sections.  
• In a race, pick one person in front of you to pass.  Pass them and pick another.
• Run each mile for a person important to your life.  Example: I read an article, once, about a girl who worked in the Twin Towers when they were destroyed.  She survived but many of her co-workers did not.  She chose to do a half marathon, and run 1 mile for each friend lost.  I have to find the link, it was a great story.
• Feeding your brain with healthy thoughts and VISUALS!  
• I love "Biggest Loser"!  It is so encouraging to me- sometimes, in the last leg of a run, I tell myself, "Come on, Amber- LAST-CHANCE-WORKOUT!
• Blogs!  My favorite running/health blog right now is fANNEtastic Food.  Her visuals, experiences, and recipes get me really motivated-- AND make me want to eat healthy!



Carrie- Pittsburgh Marathon 2011

• Friends.  Family. Workout buddies!  They're a great source of motivation and inspiration... and competition, if you're into that sort of thing ;-)
• Reminding myself that there's an iced mocha waiting for me when I get home!

• To be continued.....

Jen- Miles for Smiles 5 Miler

There are so many mind games that you can use to get you focused!  So I'm going to start a "Mind Games" series of blog entries.  I'm constantly looking for new ideas.  Would you please share some of your ideas so that I could use them in future posts?

My Baby Sister, Taylor- Great Race

Beth- SuperHero Race

Scott- SuperHero Race