As I’m sure everyone already knows, running isn’t just a physical sport. Your mental conditioning plays a huge role. Your body can only do so much if your mind is throwing up road blocks (ha, good pun). You need positive thinking to get through the physical tough spots.
Enter the running mantra.
man·tra/ˈmantrə/
| Noun: |
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So what makes a good mantra? According to Runners World, one that is “short, positive, instructive, and full of action words.” RW also encourages you to think outside the box. Don’t limit yourself to real words. Made-up words work too. “Think strong words. Repeat inspiring phrase. Run even better.”
As you might know, my mantra is Fast Feet. I used it successfully to focus myself on a tempo run. All I had to do was keep my feet moving. It distracted me from my doubts. Could I keep this pace up? Was I falling behind? Nope. No negative thinking. Just focus on keeping my feet turning over quickly. Result? The fastest 6 miles to date.
Thanks to everyone’s comments on yesterday’s post, I’ve acquired quite an arsenal of running mantras. Here are other runners go-to phrases.
Fast Feet – Sylvia from Truffes Du Jour
Finish what you’ve started…You’ve got this! - Nancy from Little Fancy Nancy
Keep Calm and Carry On – Caroline from Journey to Wellness
Own my pace - Christine from Love, Life, Surf
As far as I can, As fast as I can - Sara from Endorphin Mom
Hope less, kick more. Dreams start, guts finish. – Laura
Smooth and easy and Run tall - Jess from ReRunRunning
Dream big, run long - Dorothy from Mile Posts
Run the mile you’re in - Jess from EatDrinkBreatheSweat
Someone busier than you is running right now - Laura from Odd Duck Blog
One foot in front of the other - Katy Widrick
We don’t quit at the end… this is where we finish EVEN STRONGER - Janine from The Purple Giraffe (via Jillian Michaels)
Grateful, Power - Lisa from RunWiki
I think I can, I think I can – Caron (and The Little Engine That Could)
My legs are strong, so I run long - Cat from Breakfast To Bed
Embrace the suck - Elle from Eat, Run, Sail
For more information on mantras and what they can do for your running, I suggest you read The Magic of Mantras by Christie Aschwanden from Runners World.
QOTD: Do you have a running mantra I should add to the list? Please share!!
Grateful, Power
I LOVE running mantras! One that sticks with me lately? “Run the mile you’re in” — it has ALWAYS carried me through when I start to panic during a race or long run. It helps me refocus and forget about the finish line until I’m right on top of it.
My legs are strong, so I run long.
Embrace the suck!
“i think i can, i think i can” for hills..and “Aw hell whats another 30 min for long runs”
Relax, breathe, smooth, build slow, accelerate, you got this!
Love these! Thanks for sharing!
I missed your post yesterday. Sorry! Love seeing everyone’s mantras. My mantra: Never say never, because I can.
GREAT post! I love that you complied and listed all these for us! So helpful! I think I might steal the “own my pace” one!
Mine is “If it feels good, you ain’t doing it right!”
Cool, thanks for sharing these. I think I need to revisit running mantras, I’ve been having negative thought runs lately.
Love hearing these! Also, think I need to work on mine…it’s not even something I say that much it just hangs out on my Go Sport ID. But during White Rock Marathon for the last 10miles of it I was saying to myself “you’ve come too far to quit!”
Great post! When I run and start feeling tired, my mantras are “Keep running” and “There is no pain”.
[...] going to come up with some great mantras to carry me [...]
I loved these. I think my faves are “Run the mile you’re in” and “Own your pace”
Thanks Becca! I love those two also
[...] been talking about running mantras. One of my favorites came from Brigid’s blog: “Run the mile you’re in“. I’ve been using this recently, since I tend to think only about how much longer I [...]