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Change Your Mind & Change Your Life
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”
–Henry Ford
The Lies...
I’m not athletic.
I could never run a 5k.
I’m lazy & unmotivated.
I don’t have time to work out.
I don’t have the discipline to stick with a plan.
I’ve tried it before and failed, so if I try again I will fail again.
We all struggle with Limiting beliefs…the voice inside your head telling you that you “can’t” do something. These beliefs are not facts, but opinions based on our experiences which, over time, our subconscious has tricked us into believing. Now imagine the ability to identify what is holding us back from achieving our full potential and taking steps to change that.
I Believed I Wasn't Strong Enough
On an unseasonably cool summer night in 2009 while sitting around a backyard campfire with some friends, we started discussing the topic of Running. My neighbor and I had started running casually together a few times a week to get some exercise. One of our friends was telling us about a 10 miler she had completed recently and how she was signing up to run a half marathon in October. We all marveled at her strength and determination. A few cocktails later, my neighbor and I had decided what a great idea it would be for us to train for a half-marathon together.
My feeling the next morning was a bit less enthusiastic. Were we serious? Are we really going to do this? At the time, I had never run longer than 4 or 5 miles at a time, so 13.1 miles seemed impossible. I had serious doubts. Nonetheless, we had declared our goal, and with both of us being slightly (read, “VERY”) competitive in nature, the challenge was on. We had 12 weeks to get “race ready”.
The Plan
We had come up with a plan to run 3 mornings per week before work & a longer run on the weekends. The first few weeks of training were daunting. I had no idea how to breath, how to pace myself, or how to fuel for the long runs. But each day, we’d lace up our sneakers, meet in my driveway at 5:30am, and hit the pavement. I remember being so thankful for having such a great running buddy, keeping each other accountable, showing up for every run and motivating each other. I also remember thinking, how the hell am I going to run for 13 miles straight? I had internal arguments with my limiting beliefs daily…
You can’t do this. (Watch me.)
You are not strong enough. (Yes I am.)
You aren’t disciplined enough to stick to the plan. (5am, time to wake up!)
As each week passed, that voice inside my head seemed softer, and more distant. The more miles I covered, the more confident I felt. We were really going to do this!
Fast forward to race week…Now, If you know New England weather at all, then you know it is completely unpredictable. October 18, 2009 was no exception. Days before the race, with a looming storm on the horizon, we prepared for the worst. Layers, rain gear, gloves, ear warmers were all laid out the night before. Not having trained in anything more than a sporadic light rain, we had no idea what we were in for.
Race Day
As we toed the line for the 8am start, the limiting beliefs began to creep in….how am I going to do this? I’m not prepared. I’m not strong enough. What if I can’t finish. I will be so embarassed. On, and on, I spiraled….until suddenly in that moment, amongst the 60 mph winds and torrential rain, I looked around at the hundreds of other runners and realized I had found my tribe. We were all there to do the thing we had prepared to do, and rain or shine, come hell or high-water, we were going to do this!
The race began, and it was like I was running away from all those limiting beliefs I had been harboring. For 2 hours and 40 minutes, I, along with my fellow runners, “embraced the suck”…and I loved every single minute of it. I laugh now as I look back at the pictures that my husband took of me during the race that day, at mile 12.5, almost at the finish, soaked to the bone….and still, the biggest smile on my face (see below) because I was so thrilled at what I was about to accomplish, despite what I had always believed were my limits. Crossing the finish line that day was so empowering. I had kicked those limiting beliefs to the curb and accomplished what I never thought I could. Because I was persistent, consistent, and determined to change my mind, I was able to change my life.
Newport Half Marathon, October 18, 2009 “I laugh…at mile 12.5, almost at the finish, soaked to the bone….and still, the biggest smile on my face because I was so thrilled at what I was about to accomplish, despite of what I had always believed were my limits.”
What's Holding You Back?
There are countless limiting beliefs, and none of them serve us. The key is identifying those beliefs and challenging them head-on. If you are struggling with a self-limiting belief surrounding your fitness goals, picture yourself already having reached your goal. The more clear you can see it, the more real it becomes. Visualize how you feel, what you look like, what you’re wearing, who you’re with…create a mental picture and think about it every day.
Self-Limiting beliefs will hold you back from achieving your greatness in any aspect of life. If you believe that you can’t accomplish something, then you are not even going to try because it will make you uncomfortable. Give yourself permission to get uncomfortable and embrace your true potential. If you fear failing, your faith needs to be stronger than your fear. Know that your mind will quit long before your body ever will. Set a goal and put it in motion. When the doubt tries to creep in, stand your ground. Keep pushing. Build confidence. Change your own damn mind. Show up, every single day. Stay strong, and CRUSH YOUR GOALS!
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The Secret to Running That No One Will Tell You
“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” -John Bingham
You Wish
It’s a beautiful, crisp sunny day and you’re driving down the street, listening to your favorite podcast when something up ahead catches your eye. You can’t quite make it out at first, but as you get closer the movement becomes more clear…feet and arms moving in sync, ponytail flipping back and forth, the hint of a smile glimmering in the sunlight…it is a Runner.
Have you ever witnessed someone running down the street, immersed in the moment, and envied their strength, determination, and commitment, and then thought…”I wish I could do that”?
Stop Wishing, Start Doing
Well, I’m here to tell you…you CAN do it. But first, you need to stop ‘wishing‘, and start ‘doing‘.
Of course, there are some popular tips that can help you get started on your journey to becoming a runner:
- Wear the right sneakers
- Schedule it into your day
- Start slowly
- Stay hydrated
- Include a proper warm-up and cool-down in your routine
These basic tips are pretty straight forward and typical of what you might find on any runner’s blog. But, I promised you more, didn’t I?
The Secret...
So, my friend, here it is…the secret to becoming a runner that no one is telling you…The very first thing you must do if you want to start running…before you do any of the 5 steps listed above, is:
GET YOUR MIND RIGHT!
Yes, you read that right…the number one, most crucial thing you have to do in order to be a successful runner is change your mindset. Your body can literally do just about anything. Your only limits lie within your mind. The first part of doing anything is believing that you can.
Running is as much a mental sport, as physical. Even after running for over 20 years, and logging tens of thousands of miles, it is still a mental game that I have come to enjoy playing. Your body is capable of so much more than you give it credit for.
So if you have been thinking about becoming a runner, and didn’t know where to begin, treat your Mindset like your very first Starting Line. Train for it. Push through waves of doubt. Tell that little voice inside your head that tries to talk you out of it to sit the hell down, because you are a Badass and you have work to do, plans to make, and goals to reach.
Do You Have What it Takes?
Well…do you? Do you have the guts to believe in yourself? To challenge yourself? To change your mindset?
HELL YES, YOU DO!
You are in control of your mindset and when you choose to believe that you can do something, there is no stopping you! So now that we got that out of the way, we can get back to basics and focus on the 5 tips I shared with you earlier in this post in a little more detail:
- Wear the right sneakers-
- The one investment you must make before hitting the pavement, track, or trail, is the right pair of running shoes. There are virtually thousands of options, which can be overwhelming, so I recommend visiting your local running store for some guidance in choosing the perfect pair for you.
- Schedule it into your day-
- Treat your running time like any other appointment you make. Put it on your calendar and make it non-negotiable.
- Start slowly-
- As you begin, run for time, not distance. Try alternating between running and walking. This will help your body to adjust to the higher impact of running and build up your endurance. Over time, you can adjust the ratio of running vs. walking until you are running the entire length of your workout.
- Stay hydrated-
- Make sure to fuel your body with nutritious foods and hydrate properly so that you have enough energy to fuel your runs.
- Include a proper warm-up and cool-down in your routine-
- Warm up some dynamic stretching and a 3-5 minute walk to begin to elevate your heart rate and get your body used to moving. After your run, cool down with a 3-5 minute walk to bring your heart rate back down.
The Big Question Mark
The next time you catch a glimpse of a runner, and find yourself longing to join in… don’t wish, just do.
Elite runner, Peter Maher, coined the phrase:
“Running is a big question mark that’s there each and every day. It asks you, ‘Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today.'”
Well…which is it?
