Mentally Tough

It was just about 4 years ago when I started training for my first 10k. I had done several sprint triathlons and 5ks before that. I was excited to try a new distance and a new race.

Physically, I was ready. I probably could have gone out and run 6 miles with little training just because I was in good enough shape at the time.

What stopped me? My head. For some reason, getting past that 5 mile mark was TOUGH. I just didn’t want to or didn’t believe in myself. It seemed too hard – but it wasn’t.

So what got me there? I just made myself do it, and I talked myself up. I mapped out a 6 mile run with NO shortcut options and went on my way. And I did it. And I enjoyed it.

There are still days that I struggle with my mental game more than my physical. I don’t think I can run as fast as I want for my interval workout, or I doubt that I can conquer a certain hill or distance. But I can. And you can too.

So I guess today I just want to challenge you to BELIEVE in yourself. Believe that you can go that extra mile or just a little bit faster. Believe that you can do hard things. You can.

Do some positive self talk, come up with a mantra, reflect on past triumphs…anything to get you to see just how powerful you are. Go get em!

**Disclaimer: there are times when you need to listen to your BODY over your MIND…don’t go so hard you get injured and over train. Be smart about it :)

Excuse Detective

We all have them.

We all use them.

In fact, if making excuses to skip a workout made us fitter…we’d all be seasoned iron man triathletes.

So here is a bit of decode work done to see between those excuses we make.

Excuse 1: "I'm already too busy—I can't deal with one more thing I'm 'supposed' to do."

Take a look at your schedule. Even that part of the schedule that isn’t written down…the part where you spend some extra time on facebook or in front of the TV. Not that taking time to relax is bad, but taking time for yourself is even better. So put it on the calendar (in writing) and you’ll find you will start to MAKE time.

Excuse 2: "I’m too tired.”

It may sound counterintuitive, but working out actually gives you more energy. You get endorphins and circulation going, which helps to wake up the body and the mind. It’s also a good idea to distinguish between mental fatigue and physical fatigue. Often at the end of the day, the mental fatigue is what is getting to us. And exercise can really help release that.

Excuse 3: “I always end up failing/quitting.”

Set small, attainable goals. It also helps to keep a log and post it somewhere public -- even on Facebook. Having an exercise buddy keeps you accountable as well. When you back out of a scheduled workout, you're letting down your buddy as well as yourself. Also, look toward the future. It's harder to start exercising than to stick with it once you've got your momentum going. It’s all about perspective.

Excuse 4: “I’m too sore from yesterday’s workout.”

Light exercise the day after an intense workout may help you recover faster. You don’t want to go out and do another killer workout, but doing something will help. When you lift weights, you cause microtears in your muscles that then mend, making the muscle even stronger. Exercise increases blood flow, nourishing the muscles with oxygen and removing waste products. A recent study at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, shows that people who engaged in light activity the day after a strenuous workout experienced less soreness than those who didn't.

~What’s your favorite excuse? And how do you get past it?