All runners always succeed. All runners smash their time every time. All runners always cross the line with a strong finish. Right? Wrong!
Does Running Make you Mentally Stronger?
Yes it absolutely does. Marathon runner? Or just getting into running as beginner? You WILL have days where you are weak. You will have days where you’ll be slower than last time.
You’ll have days where you won’t push your legs to their limit in the last hundred yards or mile. You’ll have days where you start a workout or a run and you’re just not feeling it, so you turn around and go home. You’ll have days where you’re running and you get stitch, so you stop and call it quits.
You know what? That’s OK! No really… We need these days because that’s where we make a really important decision. In fact, I’d argue it’s probably the most important one you make on your fitness journey.
Go hard or go home
Option 1: “I really struggled with that. Maybe this running thing isn’t for me”. – Giver-upper.
Option 2: “OK. That was tough. But I am tougher. I can do this.”
And then this person (option A) gets up the next day and with no less than 110% of their willpower and effort, they do it. No, they smash it. It’s a really simple choice, where you choose who you are and how bad you want that unstoppable buzz at the end.
And now you’re thinking something along the lines of… “Well, that’s all well and good but be realistic – it’s easier said than done”. If that’s you, I agree. It is easier said than done. But that is exactly the point. Any runner or fitness lover will agree with you how hard it is to pick the latter choice. But they will also tell you how much it’s worth it.
A real life example: How running makes you mentally stronger
I know first hand how hard it can be to pass that mental block when running.
If you know me, you’ll know that I’m currently half-marathon training and you’ll also know how much I hate running in the heat. In a heatwave a few years ago, I stopped 6 miles into an 8 mile route. Not just a quick pause for water running on the spot. Gasping for air, I practically fell onto a nearby handrail because my legs couldn’t stand any longer.
How in the world am I supposed to finish a half-marathon? Floods of doubting questions whizzing round my mind, I had to walk the last 2 miles in 28 degrees of heat. Kitted out in all my new running gear, trainers, Kvidio headphones and running armband included, I did the walk of shame.
Disheartened and disappointed in myself? Yes.
Giving up? Please. I had made my decision. A few days late, I ran 8 miles in 80 minutes and I didn’t stop or walk once.
My advice to get stronger through running
I have been on both sides of the fence more times than I can count on my hands. You have to pick yourself up again because that’s what makes you a better athlete.
Whether you’re training for couch to 10K, maybe you’re wanting a better 5K pace, or you want a good treadmill pace. Believe in yourself, push yourself and you might just surprise yourself.
