What is mental fitness and how to train your mind?

"If you accept as fact the only limitations you ever encounter in your sport are mental, then you will become a better fire walker, creeping closer to your unreachable physical limit than you would otherwise." - Matt Fitzgerald.

Running is not only physical, but also mental. Therefore it is also very important to train your mind.

"Mind is everything. Muscle - pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind." - great Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi.

So how to train your mind?

Most of the training is through learning how to build positive and strong mindset. For example, after each workout whether it was good or bad, on your opinion, you should find something positive. If workout didn't go well, ask yourself: what you can do next time better? Also it is good to practice partial amnesia. It's when you memorize the feeling after good workouts and forget about bad workouts.

Morning meditation and visualization help with training your mind. Meditation relaxes and clear up the brain from any thoughts (including doubtful and bad ones). Visualizing yourself being successful helps with teaching your mind how to feel. However, it is good visualizing not only success as an end result, but also challenges you may face along the way. That will prepare you the best possible way to be ready for any obstacles.

"When you clearly envision the outcome of victory. engrave it upon your heart, and are firmly convinced that you will attain it, your brain makes every effort to realize the mental image you have created. And then, though your unceasing efforts, that victory is finally made a reality." - Daisaku Ikeda, philosopher.

Doing workouts in challenging weather conditions or even when you don't feel at your best helps to make your mind stronger. Overcoming tough situations and conditions leads to a growth of the mindset and preparing for challenging race day situations.

There's great app created by famous sports psychologist Jim Afremow, called Champions Mind, that has guided meditations, visualizations, self talk on different topics that will help you build a mind of the champion.

Mind is such a powerful tool. Use it at it's maximum capacity and reach all your amazing goals.

If you want to start running or improve your current running results, please send me a message lyubov.lomonosova@gmail.com

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