How to Train Your Body and Your Mind

Once upon a time I thought I couldn’t run. I tried it anyway and somewhere in my first hundred miles I found out that I not only can do it, but that I absolutely love it. There’s a hope and excitement in the first few steps as your shoes meet the pavement and a freedom that comes with settling into the rhythm of a long, hard run.

Like any runner, though, feelings of insecurity still cross my mind, especially before a big race. As I begin to train for the 2018 United Airlines NYC Half-Marathon, my head has been swirling with thoughts of self-doubt and fear.

When I started to train, apprehension began to cloud the road ahead and I couldn’t stop thinking about everything that could go wrong.

What if, upon starting the race, the other runners blow by me and look back with that mocking sort of pity reserved for people involved in something they have no business trying? What if my body isn’t up to it and I have to drop out halfway through?

I was afraid of failure, of injury, of looking like a fool. Then I realized that my body is a running machine. I’ve been eating miles for breakfast for years and as a female entrepreneur, I’ve faced significantly greater challenges during the course of my life. I can run this race in my Louboutins.

Whether you’re training for a race, or facing other personal challenges, the journey begins in your mind. Setting goals provides both a long-term dream and short-term motivation. Here’s how to achieve them:

Be precise. Spell out your specific intent with steps and dates. For example, I circled the date of the race and planned every training session and goal finish time leading up to it.
Surround yourself with positive messages. You know the people who believe in you. Spend time with them and allow yourself to believe the positive truths they tell you about yourself.
Talk to yourself. In life and in running, it’s you vs. you, baby. When I run, I feel my strong legs pumping and my heart working powerfully and tell myself my body is more than capable of accomplishing my goal.
Don’t forget to have fun. Enjoy every step of the way!