What is Mental Toughness?

What is mental toughness?!? It is often said to be the most important attribute an athlete can develop, but it's hard to put into words what exactly classifies as mental toughness since it can mean different things to each person. Most people can attest to the mental toughness that running demands, and for this reason, any brave soul that dares to lace up a pair of running shoes must possess at least minimal amounts of that motivational drive to push themselves beyond their usual comfort zone.

When trying to compare mental toughness among runners, it is often difficult to discern which ones are the most mentally tough since raw talent and training are major factors in determining a runner's performance. The best way to evaluate a runner's toughness is to observe how they respond to adversity. Do they get demoralized after having an injury? Do they find themselves constantly slowing down as the race progresses? Are they able to constantly motivate themselves to stick with their training even when they have no clear motives outside of achieving their own self-fulfillment? Mentally tough runners don't need a reason to push themselves, because they have a certain killer instinct that kicks in at the most stressful and physically-exerting moments. They are the runners that refuse to be dropped in a race and have the intangible ability to conjure up a finishing kick even when it seems like they are barely hanging on!

If you feel as though your performance has been hindered by your lack of focus and mental will power during crucial races, there are many ways to toughen yourself up. First of all, you have to maintain a positive outlook about your running at all times. For me, I need at least 1 solid workout each week to remind myself of how strong and fit I actually am. That may be a really hard long run where I was able to gut it out to the end or it may just be mile repeats that I ran. Either way, you have to fill your mind with positive thoughts. One way to give yourself a good mindset is by simulating racing conditions in your workouts. When you go on a run and reach the point where you are planning to stop, stick it out for 1 more mile even if your muscles are aching and your body is saying that you've had enough. Getting used to pushing yourself beyond the usual limits is important. In races you don't have the luxury of taking it easy when you're tired, so why should your training runs be any different? It is not wise to push every workout, since your body does need adequate time to recover after engaging in strenuous activity, but just remember that pain is not something you should be avoiding. Pain is simply weakness leaving the body. Also, be sure to do some of your runs near race pace, so when you get into a race, you will be more confident in your ability to handle the workload. Bad races and other negative events are bound to happen periodically, which is why I want to stress the importance of turning a negative thought into a positive one. Never put yourself down and try to focus on the things you are doing well. If you have a bad race, break it down into segments so you can analyze which parts you excelled at and which areas still need improvement. Always remember that running is unique in that there is always work to be done. Some people seem to think running gets easier as you get faster, but that is a flawed way of thinking. No matter how good you become, you are constantly challenging yourself to improve. It never gets easier, you just get faster. In baseball, a pitcher may be able to throw a perfect game, but running can never be perfected. It is always a work in progress, which should serve as a great source of motivation. You will set goals for yourself that seem satisfying at the time, but once they are achieved, you will quickly find yourself striving for bigger and better goals.

Another key component to "building brain muscles" is to stay focused. When you're running, don't allow yourself to get distracted by things that will only inhibit your performance. You may have been told before to "live in the moment," and in this case you need to run in the moment. When you're in a race, nothing else matters. It doesn't matter if you start to develop a blister on your big toe. It doesn't matter if sweat is pouring down your face and your hair looks like shit. It doesn't matter if your socks don't match or if you can't remember if you left the coffee pot on in the kitchen. RUNNING COMES FIRST! Most of all, when you're in the middle of a run, focus on the present. Don't worry about how you might feel when you reach the hill at mile 10. Learn to concentrate on what you are doing in the present. Focus on maintaining a nice rhythm, so while other runners are fading in the race, you are blowing by them with a satisfying grin.



And lets not forget one of the most underrated tools you can utilize.....Training conditions! Running in non-ideal conditions is the best piece of advice I can give you. Instead of running at 6am before the sun has the chance to show its ugly face, sleep in, and go for a run at 2pm when it's so hot even your shadow looks for shade. At first it will be terrible. You will only be able to run half of your usual distance, and each run will be more physically draining than the day before. Make sure to stash a water bottle somewhere along your running path just in case you need it. Getting accustomed to running in the heat can be a painstakingly long process. It may take a few months to adjust, but I guarantee that you will get stronger in the end. Soon enough, the heat will feel normal, and when you run under any other conditions, you will absolutely kill it! After this sort of training, you will be ready for anything mother nature throws out at you on race day.

You can train as much as you want, but if you never take the time to develop mental toughness, then your potential is very limited. Running endless miles every week will make your legs powerful, but don't forget about the weakest part of your body - the mind. Running is not about elegance, style, and talent. It is about having the hunger, desire, grit, and mental toughness to perform at your best under the most intense pressure and conditions. To modify Charles Darwin's quote that talks about natural selection and survival of the fittest for all species in an environment with limited resources, I will leave you with this: "It's only survival of the fittest if the strong refuse to quit."