A good mindset and a strong mental game are key for an endurance event. It’s probably the area of running that interests me the most. I’ve watched a lot of Youtube videos on sports psychology and learnt tips and tricks along the way about how your brain works, how it’s hard wired to avoid pain and the best way to collaborate with your mind.
It’s extremely hard to push through pain and fatigue and keep on running, for hours and hours when every ounce of your being is screaming at you to stop. I’m still learning, I’ve semi mastered the keep on running part, but being able to push myself over this distance is something I would like to be better at. But it’s terrifying, knowing you have 8, 9 or 10 hours plus still to run. How do you push yourself knowing if it goes wrong, it’s not just sore legs for half an hour or so it’s potentially – extreme pain/fatigue, vomiting, hallucinations, injury and going into a dark dark place mentally – for hours.
Despite the above, the plan was simple. Break the course down into manageable chunks – aid station to aid station, keep up the nutrition, use the support of my friends and family and above all have faith in my training and enjoy the journey.