Boston Marathon: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough
COMMENTARY
26.2 miles is a long way. The road to the finish takes time and is often fraught with challenges. One minute you’re feeling great, the next you’re wondering how you’re going to get through those last 10 miles. As much as I’d like to say that race day is going to be all roses, the odds are that at some point (or a few) you’re going to feel like the finish is beyond your reach.
This is a harsh reality when it comes to running a marathon. Moments like these are never fun, but they don’t have to end your run.
For me it all starts with having the right mindset. It’s about developing the proper attitude and building intrinsic motivation. In short, recognizing that challenge can be a source of motivation is a very important part of marathon psychology. Yes, part of running a marathon effectively is learning how deal with disappointing moments, but the key is to not let them define you. In short, it’s easy to love the race when everything is going your way. But it’s how you approach the challenging moments, when you feel you’re just running an uphill race, that can and will define your race day experience.
I say this, because it’s often at moments when things seem the darkest, that you rediscover your motivation and what running this race really means to you. Yes, they have always been there, but when things are going great it’s easy to get caught up in the moment. Yet, when the moment is what seems to be against you, digging deep and rediscovering the meaning of why you are running will not only motivate you to soldier on, but help you move beyond the immediate frustration or pain.
If you’re focused on the pain and questioning what you’re doing, it’s going to make for a very long day. At the same time, having the ability to look beyond the immediate moment, and think about why you are running to begin with and what you have accomplished to date, can be a game-changing experience.
Beyond this, it’s key to focus on winning the “Little Victories.’’ It’s important to realize that the finish line is just one spot on the course, and while crossing it is the ultimate objective, it’s the string of little victories we piece together along the way that enable us to do so successfully. In short, when the going gets tough, don’t focus on the finish; focus on the next mile or that point when you know a family member or friend will be waiting to cheer for you. Once you get there, pick another small goal, and so on. In short, it’s key that you look at the marathon as the sum of many parts versus a whole. In doing this you will find that success is not defined solely by crossing the finish, but rather it’s accomplished by everything you to do to get there.
Ultimately, the key is to go into race day believing in you. While training and physiological preparation is essential, having the right mental state and preparing accordingly is just as important. It’s critical to realize beforehand that while you will likely encounter some challenging moments out on the course, they don’t have to make or break your entire race.
Therefore, when the going gets tough and you’re wondering how you’re ever going to finish, take a moment to think about why you are really there. Take a moment to think about everything you have done to get to this moment…the early morning runs, the miles you’ve logged, the time you’ve committed.
While crossing the finish is no doubt your goal and is extremely important, my guess is that it’s not the sole reason you are out there running and why you’ve taken on this challenge to begin with. My guess is that running the Boston Marathon has much greater meaning. It’s in this moment that you will find what will truly keep you going and the source of strength, meaning and motivation that will carry you through to the finish, no matter how tough the going gets.
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