The Importance of Mentally Training for a Half or Full Marathon
If you’re like most runners, you spend the majority of your time training your body to run long distances. But what about your mind? Despite being just as important as the body, mental training often falls by the wayside. In this post, our 2021-2022 Race Ambassador Jackie talks about the importance of mental training and shares some personal experiences to help you get started.
Lace up your sneakers and let’s get started!
Out of 47 races, I have never quit, until last weekend. Heck! I didn’t even start, let alone quit.
I trained for several months for my race. In prime physical condition, I felt very strong and confident in the distance and my ability to finish. But come race morning, I did not want to compete. I didn’t even want to try. I really didn’t want to participate at all. So, I didn’t. I quit, before the race even started. I failed mentally. Upon reflection and talking with other experienced runners and coaches, I realized I never mentally trained for the race.
Here are the mental training tips that I learned and want to share with you as you prepare for your Austin Marathon or Half Marathon.
1) First and foremost, listen to your body. Take a break when your body is telling you that it’s fighting extreme exhaustion or is injured. See a doctor or physical therapist if needed. These tips are for building your mental strength and are not suggested to be used in place of your physical needs.
2) On the flip side, don’t blow off your workouts because you are tired and just don’t feel like doing them that day. After doing this too many times, it becomes the norm. Stand true to your workouts and try to hit as many as possible. Tell yourself you are strong and can do it – then do it!
3) Embrace the suck. Some runs are hard, and they might suck. But without these, you won’t know what a good workout feels like. And these hard workouts make you stronger and faster, so embrace them.
4) Remember that racing is fun. Sure, we all have a little competitiveness and our own personal goals, but they should be fun. If you find yourself frustrated or regretting every workout in your training plan, maybe ask yourself if you are running the right distance.
5) Visualize your race day. Do this early and frequently in your training. Picture the hills, weather (good and bad), temperature, crowd support, etc. Walkthrough good and bad runs in your mind and decide early how you are going to handle each when or if they come.
6) Remember why you committed in the first place. Many times, this alone will carry you through any tough run.
7) Share your feelings with your running tribe. Fellow runners are your best supporters and can help you talk through your concerns. Even if you are one who likes to run alone, call your running friends or message them and just chat about your training and how you feel. These folks can help carry you through any bad workout or race. They will be there to get you to the start.
8) The power of positive thinking is real! Stay positive and don’t allow yourself to travel down the spiral of negativity. Stop and redirect your thoughts if you start down the negative path.
I hope you find help in these and best of luck with your training! You can follow Jackie on Instagram at @jaxbunce.
6 Tips for Staying Motivated Until Race Day
Keep your training momentum high with these tips for staying motivated
For many, running is an integral part of their day. Consistently running will prepare you for your distance, but there are factors out there that can sap your motivation. Don’t let that happen! Be diligent, keep your motivation cranked up, and race day will be here before you know it. The tips for staying motivated that you’ll need are below!
Track your progress
Friends hold each other accountable and keep them motivated all the way to the finish line.
Motivation can be quickly lost when you don’t see progress. It’ll feel like you’re not going anywhere. Track your progress to stay motivated! You can see the data for each workout, improvement from week-to-week, and total mileage once you cross the finish line. We run with Under Armour’s MapMyFitness. The insights are tremendous, it lets you know about everything, including stride and cadence.
Find accountability
We can’t stress this enough. Running with a friend or your local running group ( like RAW or Austin Runners Club) will elevate your motivation. The accountability factor is real and it benefits everyone. Everyone wants to cross the Austin Marathon finish line and you want to help each other get there. Accountability will keep that pact intact, especially if you have trouble getting up in the morning.
Reward yourself
One reason people lose motivation is they focus on the big goal – the Austin Marathon finish line. That’s fantastic, but it shouldn’t be your only goal because that one goal will produce only one reward. Set up monthly, weekly, or daily goals and reward yourself! Get out of bed for that early morning workout? Get your favorite coffee. Complete your weekend long run? Reward yourself with brunch from your favorite spot.
Prep your stuff the night before
Lance Armstrong was the 2019 Austin Gives Miles Charity Chaser, lending his legs and his miles!
Your alarm goes off, you roll out of bed, just trying to get out the front door. The last thing you want to do is think about what you need for your run or to pack a bag so you can shower at the gym. Knock all this out the night before and set your bag near the front door. This will save time in the morning and ensure you don’t forget something important, like soap, deodorant, or your underwear! Pro tip: sleep in your running clothes to save even more time!
Find a cause to support
Run for someone or something other than yourself! A great place to look is Austin Marathon Gives – the Austin Marathon’s philanthropic program. Austin Marathon Gives supports Central Texas nonprofits, helping them raise funds and increase awareness for their cause. There’s a range of causes for runners to choose from! Pick a nonprofit you love, lend your legs and miles, and make a difference with your training. You can also run and fundraise on behalf of your favorite charity! Plus every dollar you raise is matched by the Moody Foundation, up to $10,000 per charity!
Sign up for a race
There are benefits to registering for another race. It’ll act as another goal for you to work towards, you can test your hydration/nutrition plans, and eliminate some of those race-day jitters. 3M Half Marathon presented by Under Armour on January 23rd is the perfect tune-up race for the Austin Marathon. It has one of the fastest half marathon courses in the country and is 4 weeks before the Austin Marathon.
Keep your momentum levels on HIGH. The more you have fun during your runs and workouts, the more likely you are to continue the next day. Incorporate these tips for staying motivated throughout your training. Do you have a tip that keeps you motivated during your training? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
How to Run: Useful Advice for First-Time Runners
Our advice for first-time runners will start you off on the right foot
So you’ve decided to start running? Congratulations! Running is a great way to improve your cardiovascular health, build strong bones and muscles, and boost your mood. But if you’re a first-time runner, the prospect of lacing up your sneakers and hitting the pavement can be a bit intimidating at first. Where do you start? How do you make sure you don’t get injured? And how do you keep yourself motivated to keep running?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this blog post, we’ll give you some useful tips on how to get started with running, how to stay safe and injury-free, and how to make sure you keep enjoying running for the long haul.
Remember: every runner starts at square one. You are about to embark on an amazing journey. It will include countless miles, early mornings, new friends, and plenty of finish lines! Take our advice for first-time runners and apply it to your journey!
Set a goal, find a training plan
One of the first things you want to do is set a goal. That could be a distance, a race, or a specific distance at a certain event. If you’re just starting out, an ideal goal race would be the Austin Half Marathon. The distance, 13.1 miles, is a great intro to the sport. Plus, you have plenty of time to follow this free half marathon training plan!
Set a larger goal and train for the Austin Marathon. Going from 0 to 26.2 is a great undertaking, but one that you can accomplish with help from this free marathon training plan. Want to begin with a smaller distance and get to the 3-block-long finish line festival before everyone else? The 5K distance is perfect if you don’t have that much time to train. Bonus points for getting friends and family to join you. Make sure you download this free 5K training plan and share it with whoever’s joining you.
Learn how to run your best
Running is simple, you put one foot in front of the other. But there are so many ways for you to run better and see improvement. Take proper care of your body, especially when you’re just beginning. Getting more sleep, taking time off, and hydrating properly are just a few of these 7 tips that’ll help you run your best!
Prepare for different weather
You might not know it yet, but running in the rain is an absolute treat! Just make sure you’re prepared so a fun run in the rain stays fun. These 7 tips will keep your training on track despite the weather. Just make sure you check the weather before you take off. Don’t run if there’s lightning!
If the weather is on the warmer side, summertime running tips will keep you comfortable and safe as the temperature rises.
Keep your motivation motor running
Sometimes the motivation just isn’t there. The chances of skipping a run or missing a workout are higher with first-time runners. But you’re not alone! All runners face this dilemma. One of the best ways to keep your motivation level high is to find an accountability partner. This person will meet you early in the morning and make sure y’all complete the run. Yes, you guessed it, you’ll hold them accountable too! Here are 5 additional tips for staying motivated.
Get Good Shoes
Invest in a good pair of running shoes. One of the most important pieces of gear for a runner is a good pair of shoes. Running shoes are designed to provide cushioning and support for your feet, which helps reduce the risk of injuries like shin splints, Achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. When choosing running shoes, it’s important to get fitted at a specialty running store, like Fleet Feet Austin, so that the sales staff can help you find the right shoe for your foot type and gait (the way you move while running).
Don’t miss your morning run
Getting up for your early morning run can be difficult, especially for first-time runners. Completing an early morning run really sets up the rest of your day nicely! But the battle with your alarm clock is real. This is the case for veteran runners too! Implement some or all of these 6 tips. They’ll help you get out the door for your morning run.
Long-run recovery timeline
You’re logging miles. Crushing your early morning run. Your weekend long runs are getting longer. What’s left? Learn how to properly recover from your long run with this recovery timeline. This long-run recovery timeline will help expedite the recovery process and help get you ready for whatever’s next!
This useful advice will help put first-time runners on the road to success. But if you’re returning from a long break or recovering from an injury, this information is just as beneficial. Get ready for an amazing running journey! Hey veterans, if there’s something that worked for you as a first-time runner let us know on Facebook or Twitter.
