The marathon mind
Have you ever had a moment that’s stopped you in your tracks? That’s changed the trajectory of your life, your mindset and your behaviour?
For me, it was a small moment. It was looking at some photos and not liking what I saw. A realisation that stress and the transition from student to full-time employee, had changed me…and my body.
So I started running. A lot.
My body changed. And so did my mind.
Marathons — and injury — will do that to you.
I ran my first marathon in 2006. Over time, I got pretty good. My PB (personal best) was 2:45. I placed in the top 20 at the Australian titles.
But in 2010 I got injured.
And that forced me, slowly but surely, to change my approach to running, to competitiveness, to progress, and to setting goals.
Let me explain.
Comparison can help or hinder
Running was once all about times and PBs for me. I competed against not just myself, but others.
But as I’ve got a little older and recovered from an injury or two, I’ve learned to take a slightly different approach.
I still have goals. I still want to do well. I still want to give it my best shot. But my baseline for comparison has changed.
I’m a different person to what I was seven years ago. I’m married. I’ve got a new baby. I’ve had a shoulder reconstruction. I’m running a small business.
Stefan, Tanya and Naomi
And what’s important to me, has also changed.
So instead of comparing my current running performance to 2009 Stefan, I compare myself to 2016 Stefan.
“You can’t compare yourself to who you were. You have to compare yourself to who you are now — and try to be better tomorrow than you are today.”
And I focus on improving where I’m at now; understanding that the best comparison is asking, “Am I a little better today than what I was yesterday?”. Not dreaming about the glory days.
Celebrate progress
Training for a marathon can, at times, feel like a mammoth task…especially when you’re just getting started. Whether you’re a first timer, or coming back into it after a break.
There’s the sheer volume of km’s you need to put in, and then there’s the combination of wide-eyed excitement and nervousness on race day. It’s easy to feel beaten before you’re even toeing the start line.
But sometimes the best way to overcome that sense of overwhelm, is to look back at how far you’ve come.
Look at your training log. Remind yourself of all the work you’ve done; how much of the marathon mountain you’ve already climbed. Remind yourself of your progress.
“Reflect, enjoy the moment and be proud of your achievements.”
Celebrate and puff your chest a little. And be confident that the effort that’s got you this far, will help you reach your next milestone.
Things will get hard
Despite all your preparation, at some point in a marathon, you’ll probably hit a wall.
Not literally. But your legs will feel like lead. The ease of movement will be gone. It will hurt. And you’ll want to give in.
But if you keep going, just one foot in front of the other, you eventually turn a corner. It’s slow. But you start to feel better. You regain strength. And you come out of it.
“When you keep going – as long as you’re working on the right stuff – things can turn around”
Deliberate forward momentum, even at a snail’s pace, can get you through.
Because results don’t come if you stop when it gets hard.
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Marathons have helped me shift my typical “high achiever” mindset. You might know it. You’re driven. You’re motivated to succeed. You’ve always done pretty well at things you put your mind to. You want to hold your head high.
And that shift means I’m now a little bit kinder to myself. I still want to do well, but I’m learning to be a little less judgmental and critical of myself. And that change in approach and attitude allows me to flip what I get out of experiences.
Just a few weeks ago, I ran my first marathon in six years. My niece, nephew and a few friends, came out to cheer me on.
It was tough. I hung on. I worked through the pain.
I was a bit sore, but recovered well. And it reminded me that the marathon distance needs a healthy dose of respect and ignited an ambition to go a little bit better next year.
I didn’t get a result my 2009 self would be proud of. But I got a result my 2016 self was proud of.
Stefan — Sydney Marathon 2016