Marathon Training: Part 3 - Mindset

By Lifeasarunningmom @RunningMom6
Over the years I have learned a lot about marathoning. More than I want to put into one post so I created a 4-part series on marathon training.
The words we use are very powerful and this not only applies to the words we say out loud to others but also to the words we think (and say) to ourselves.
What are you telling yourself each and every day? Are you liftiing yourself up or bringing yourself down?
Unfortunately, too often I have been bringing myself down. Yep, it is true even though I strive each day, and always have, to encourage others and bring them up. The thing is, we can be so hard on ourselves, can't we?
If a friend wants to break a 4 hour marathon I am sure you will be full of words of wisdom and support.
"You got this!"

"Great job!"

"Nice training run!"
But replace your friend with yourself and your training and the responses to the same circumstances can be very different.

"I'm not sure if I can nail this training pace."

"I should have run faster and/or longer." - Take your pick.

"Ugh! That run sucked!"
If you talked to your friend that way, would they want to keep pushing? Would they want to stay your friend?
Probably not and I think you would agree. That isn't a very nice way to talk to someone so why do you, and I, do it to ourselves?
Often because we expect more out of ourselves. We have something to prove. The grass is always greener on the other side and we want that awesomeness too but we forget, we all have hurdles. Even those "perfect" runners, moms, people have issues. We all do. It is part of life.
But are you going to let your issues outshine your awesomeness? Because we all have our own awesomeness. Why dull yours? Why sabatage your training, and life, with negative self talk? It is time to make a change because trust me, around mile 21, it will be your mind that carries you. And running 26.2 miles is humbling. You will learn more about yourself each and every race so practice a positive mindset right now, yes now, today.
You are beautiful. You are strong. You are loved. You are capable. You are successful. You got this!
Now say it to yourself. Yes, say it to yourself.
I am beautiful. I am strong. I am loved. I am capable. I am successful. I got this!
Did you say it....out loud? Reading doesn't count. Say it out loud right now to yourself.
I am beautiful. I am strong. I am loved. I am capable. I am successful. I got this!
Do this every single day. Yes, every day. Let's do it together. Go ahead, involve your kiddos. Say it every day together. Not only will you be framing your life bettter, you will be framing their lives better and how cool is that?
I am beautiful. I am strong. I am loved. I am capable. I am successful. I got this!
These words can become your mantras and what better words are there to fall back on when you hit that proverbial wall?
Hello wall. I am beautiful. I am strong. I am loved. I am capable. I am successful. I got this! See you later, alligator!
Daily Gratitude: I am thankful for the positive growth I am experiencing through daily running, cross training, and personal development.
Daily Bible Verse: The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. ~ Proverbs 15:4