{"id":53805,"date":"2016-11-10T07:15:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T12:15:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=53805"},"modified":"2021-09-16T14:06:06","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T18:06:06","slug":"marathoner-motivational-mantras","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/marathoner-motivational-mantras\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Marathoner Mantras for When You\u2019re Ready to Give Up"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Every marathon<\/a> comes with its own set of challenges, whether it\u2019s a hilly course, lots of turns, unrelenting wind or hot weather<\/a>. Sometimes it\u2019s the sheer distance itself that can trip people up \u2014 even on the flattest of routes. If you\u2019ve ever come across a time mid-race or mid-long run when you feel like you just need<\/em> to walk, know that you\u2019re not alone. No matter how well you train<\/a>, your legs will eventually feel tired and your brain might get a little bored. (Even pro marathoners say they reach this point!)<\/p>\n

Persevering through the hard hills and long stretches, though, will make you feel even more proud\u00a0in the end. And\u00a0the key to staying motivated and making it to the finish is a positive mindset. To help you keep a clear head, we gathered advice from men and women who have successfully steered the 26.2-mile course. From elite runners<\/a> to amateur marathoners, here are their best tips for keeping going when the going gets tough.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>The 30 Best Marathons in the Entire World<\/a><\/p>\n

9 Marathoner Tips for Making It Through a Tough Race<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1.\u00a0Stay in the moment.
\n<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u00a0had a sports psychologist named Craig Manning tell me, \u2018anxiety lives in the future and regret in the past, but none of those emotions exist in the present.\u2019\u00a0When things get tough, I try to get myself into the present and break the race up into manageable chunks. In the Olympics<\/a> at 16 miles, I wasn’t sure I was going to make it. I didn’t feel great, and it was hot and humid. However, I knew I could make it two more miles to my next GLUKOS bottle, so I worked on that. Throughout the rest of the race, I thought in small steps. Nerves hit when I am worried about what might or might not happen. When I’m in the present, focusing only on the relevant, I don’t worry about the pain or fear the future.\u201d
\n\u2014 Jared Ward, sixth place finisher in the 2016 Olympic Marathon<\/p>\n

2. Think of it as character development. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhen the crux of a marathon rears its face, I use it as a moment to\u00a0define myself.\u00a0Because whether we are using running to be faster<\/a> or healthier or to strengthen our resolve, when the going gets tough, it\u2019s our chance to define ourselves. So I like to put a little pressure on myself in the race. I tell myself that the outcome is greater than simply a PR<\/a> or a podium finish. Depending on the choices I make in a race \u2014 to give up or dig down \u2014 I am creating a habit when things get stressful<\/a> or hectic in everyday life. Running is a safe place to express being graceful, bold, strong, courageous, tough and resilient. Once you are challenged in life, you can more habitually react with those traits.\u201d
\n\u2014 Deena Kastor<\/a>, American record holder in the marathon; won the bronze in the 2004 Olympic Marathon<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Running a Marathon<\/a><\/p>\n

3. Practice positive self-talk. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThink confident thoughts and repeat mantras to yourself, like \u2018I am fast, this feels good\u2019 or \u2018I am strong, I\u2019m running great.\u2019 Don’t use mantras with negative words like \u2018fight the pain.\u2019 Also, try and catch people in front of you. Pick one person and focus solely on reeling them in, nothing else. As you pass them, surge and put your eyes on the next person and repeat. Imagine tying a fishing line to their back and reeling them in.\u201d
\n\u2014 Jeff Gaudette, owner and head coach of RunnersConnect<\/a> in Boston<\/p>\n

4. Dedicate your miles to family. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe thing I think most about when a marathon get tough is my family, mostly my kids.\u00a0I think about how they love and support me in this and that I’m not just doing it for myself, but for all of them. When the hills get difficult and the temperature gets warmer,\u00a0I know I can\u2019t give up.\u00a0I push even harder, so that I can see them all at the finish line sooner.\u201d
\n\u2014 Ashley Degen, 38-time marathoner based in Kansas City, KS<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>5 Running Tweaks That Took an Hour Off My Marathon Time<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Remember why you\u2019re running. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhen I go to the dark side in a marathon<\/a>, I reconnect with my purpose and why I originally set out to run the 26.2-mile race. We are all running for a reason, whether it’s to challenge ourselves, beat the competition, honor a loved one or inspire others. The purpose behind the marathon endeavor is often full of emotional charge, and I recall it when it gets hard. It fuels me to stay focused and use the power of will. It reminds me that it’s not OK to take the easy way out. It drives me into my zone where I feel most alive. Purpose is powerful.\u201d
\n\u2014 Michael Meliniotis, a regional class runner and coach at Mile High Run Club<\/a> in NYC<\/p>\n

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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

6. Let go of the stress. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThere is inevitably pain, of course, and what makes it worse is fear \u2014 the fear of not being able to go forward, the fear of embarrassment when you show up a day late to the line, or just the fear of really damaging yourself. The truth is most of the issues can be corrected by a slight change in form, or simply slowing down so you can\u00a0run with\u00a0your best form. Hitting \u2018the wall\u2019 is mostly in our head. If you can focus your mind on what’s positive about that moment, and think of a strategy instead of a tragedy, you can work your way into the next wind. Oh, also, remember you’re out there for the fun of it!\u201d
\n\u2014 Danny Fisher, two-time marathoner based in NYC<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>You Ran a Marathon, Now What? Getting Past the Post-Race Blues<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Acknowledge that you put in the work. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cI tell myself, \u2018this pain and these miles are temporary, and if you keep going and truly do your best that feeling will be with you forever…just as the feeling of being so pissed off at yourself will be with you forever if you stop!\u2019 I think about all those early mornings I got up to run while everyone was asleep, the party nights when I drank water so I could get up for a long run, and the family time I missed during training. That keeps me motivated to do my very best. It all comes down to one race and one day \u2014 leave it all out on the course!\u201d
\n\u2014 Liz Krull, 12-time marathoner based in Overland Park, KS<\/p>\n

8. Realize you\u2019re lapping people on the couch. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cThe first thing I always tell people is that almost everyone I know goes through this lull at least one time during their race. So never think it’s because you haven’t trained hard enough or you’re not in shape. It’s a normal, and in my opinion, positive feeling, which when overcome, is a real accomplishment. When this does happen to me, I think to myself, \u2018I can do anything for the amount of time I have left.\u2019 I also think about how 99 percent of the population is lying in bed and not doing what I’m doing, which is something to be proud of.\u00a0Lastly, I think, \u2018I can always slow down my pace a little and get back in the groove.\u2019\u201d
\n\u2014 Stevie Kremer, elite long-distance trail runner based in Crested Butte, CO<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>12 Secrets from the Pros to Achieve a Personal Best<\/a><\/p>\n

9. Focus on form and stay strong. <\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cMy mantra is typically, ‘form, form, form.\u2019 When a runner gets tired, their form breaks down and gets less efficient. By saying and focusing on form, I remind myself to run more efficiently and to get back on track. Even for only a few seconds, I am running better \u2014 sometimes this is enough to get you through a rough patch or tough hill on the course. It also will distract you from how bad you might be feeling. I sometimes get mad at how I might be feeling or how my body is starting to fail me. Giving yourself some tough love does help you keep moving. It is important to stay positive. Focus on the all the work you did and not what you might have missed.\u201d
\n\u2014 John Honerkamp, senior manager at the New York Road Runners<\/a> and coordinator of the TCS New York City Marathon<\/a> online training program<\/p>\n

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Photo: Twenty20<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

10. Recall what you overcame in training.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u201cWhen I\u2019m training, I feel like I\u2019m often actually in more pain than the race, because in training, you don\u2019t have the crowd and everyone around you. So I try to remind myself when I\u2019m running a race of what I fought through already in training, and that it\u2019s prepared me for whatever I\u2019m going to face in the race. And that it\u2019s actually going to be easier, because I have the crowd pushing me and all the adrenaline. One quote I like to tell myself is, \u2018In the joy of going all-out, I forgot my pain.\u2019 That\u2019s from Roger Bannister\u2026enjoy challenging yourself and going for it and you kind of forget about the pain as soon as it\u2019s over.\u201d
\n\u2014 Sara Hall, pro track athlete, three-time marathoner, co-founder of the Hall Steps Foundation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For those times on the course when you just want to give up and walk, nine marathoners \u2014 from pros to amateurs \u2014 have the advice to pull you through. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6],"tags":[288,289,111,110,108,341,357],"class_list":["post-53805","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","tag-cardio","tag-exercise","tag-marathon","tag-race","tag-running","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2running"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53805","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53805"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53805\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53805"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53805"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53805"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}