Mental strategies/positive thoughts for helping you get to the finish line

[cewait]

***

I like to do math on the trail - oh, I am running at an 11:10 pace right now. If I ran an 11:10 pace consistently for the whole marathon, what would my finishing time be? etc.

My one thing that always makes me feel better is smack talking drivers if I am running on the road. I know it is awful, but it makes me feel so much better about myself! Hey dude - maybe you should get out here and run with me instead of sitting on your butt eating those French fries. Hey lady - maybe if you take your cell phone out of your one hand and the cigarette out of the other, you could drive better! etc.

It's fun.

I too do math, especially in the race. As I pass a clock, I look at my watch and confirm that the time difference is still constant. You know, if it took 5:21 between the gun and when I started, then is it still 5:21. Then I do just like you and figure out my expected finish time based on average pace. But I then start the what ifs. What if I walked the remainder of the race, would I finish before the max time? Then would I finish by x time? and work it back to if I sped up what could I do the race in. I then go back and recheck my math and by the time I complete it again, another mile has clicked off.

 

[Figment1990]

I do math too! Normally I stink at mental math. But for some reason when it comes to pacing and finish times and splits, I'm allllllll about it! I have told my DH that sometimes I think I like to run bc it can be so logical and analytical. I also study my running log. I may be bad at regular mental math but I'm great at analysis (including as part of my career).

At my first half (wine and dine) I was just enjoying taking it in that I was constantly entertained. Except at the stretch headed into animal kingdom. It seemed to take forever. After that tho I was good to go and entertained by other racers, spectators, and my mantras.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I use Nike+ while running and so far I have rallied 50 of my friends and family members to keep the applause and cheers coming through my headphones. When I start running,the Nike+ status will pop up on Facebook,as long as everyone clicks "like" or comments on the status, applause will ring in my ears. I love it!

It will feel like all of my family is there cheering me on.

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[irishtwins1112]

I use Nike+ while running and so far I have rallied 50 of my friends and family members to keep the applause and cheers coming through my headphones. When I start running,the Nike+ status will pop up on Facebook,as long as everyone clicks "like" or comments on the status, applause will ring in my ears. I love it!

It will feel like all of my family is there cheering me on.

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That is super cool : D

 

[DisneyRunnerGirl]

These are all such great ideas! Maybe I will spend my 18 miler tomorrow (in the rain ) thinking about these.

I only use music on training runs when I am really struggling. On my long run last week I ended up turning on the music at about the 3/4 point. My shuffle brought up the Tiki Birds song as the very first song. Hadn't gone more than 3 or 4 bars into the song when I turned a corner on the trail and nearly ran over a gentleman wearing an "I Did It" shirt from the 2012 WDW Full Made me laugh out loud. Had a quick chat with the gentleman who is training for the 2013 full as I am.

Not bad living 1,000 miles from the World

 

[liznboys]

That's very cool DisneyRunnerGirl!

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

These are all such great ideas! Maybe I will spend my 18 miler tomorrow (in the rain ) thinking about these.

I only use music on training runs when I am really struggling. On my long run last week I ended up turning on the music at about the 3/4 point. My shuffle brought up the Tiki Birds song as the very first song. Hadn't gone more than 3 or 4 bars into the song when I turned a corner on the trail and nearly ran over a gentleman wearing an "I Did It" shirt from the 2012 WDW Full Made me laugh out loud. Had a quick chat with the gentleman who is training for the 2013 full as I am.

Not bad living 1,000 miles from the World

So cool. I only ran alongside a girl who was in the 2012 Princess this summer at a 10k I was in. She had on the Disney race shirt.

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[AnotherPrincess]

I am actually thinking of making a list of 26 of my friends/family members and dedicated a mile to each one. During that mile, I will think of things we have done together and why they are important to me...the time will just fly by, right?

I did this for my half this past weekend. I only got through mile 7 with this and then forgot. Lol. I like the pace band idea. Think I will do that for Princess.

 

[PRmamiDEdos]

I am actually thinking of making a list of 26 of my friends/family members and dedicated a mile to each one. During that mile, I will think of things we have done together and why they are important to me...the time will just fly by, right?

I like that but the people around me might wonder why I'm a blubbery mess, LOL.

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[irishtwins1112]

I like that but the people around me might wonder why I'm a blubbery mess, LOL.

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I know what you mean. Things could get emotional.

Something that motivated me today but may not apply to everyone:

I was speaking with one of my spin instructors today and telling her about my negative feelings about the marathon, how slow I am, the toe sprain, etc. She encouraged me by saying "Just look at the marathon like life. A lot of people breeze through life too fast and don't take the time they should doing things and then it is over. It's okay to be slow and you can do it. Just keep it under 16 minutes per mile. You will finish and get your crown. Just like the Christian life."

Drawing strength from your faith is a big motivator for getting to that finish line.