3 Mindset Shifts: Be a Stronger Runner

2-Minute Read

Changing your mindset is a process of small, intentional shifts.

By learning to love hard work for it's own sake, seeking out challenge, and aligning our routines with the type of athlete we want to be, we can set ourselves up for long-term growth and success.

These shifts don’t just lead to achieving goals—they transform us into the type of person we want to become.

1. Hard Work is the Goal, Not Its Outcomes

The core idea here is that hard work itself, not the results or outcomes, should be our focus. When we value the process and the effort we put into challenges, that's where fulfillment and happiness come from.

The results, such as hitting a goal or achieving a milestone, are important, but they are secondary to the satisfaction we get from the hard work. Why? Because any goal can be achieved by default once we've learned to love putting in the work. And hard work itself, is what changes our brains - not the perception of achievement upon hitting a particular pace. 

The real satisfaction comes from the work we put in, not the achievement we get out.

2. Challenge is the Only Way to Grow

This shift focuses on the necessity of challenge for personal growth.

Challenges push us to evolve, and without them, we stagnate. In training and in life, if things are too easy, we don’t grow. The harder we push, the more resilient and capable we become.

And so, the idea here is that we need to directly seek challenge, not avoid it. A shift in perspective—seeing difficulty not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to grow—will make the process of growth enjoyable and motivating.

Challenge is the vehicle for improvement, and the more we lean into it, the more we evolve as athletes.

3. Build a Routine to Change Who You Are, Not Achieve an Outcome

The third shift is about routine & consistency being the key to growth, but perhaps not how you'd expect.

Rather than viewing your routine as a means to hit a specific goal (e.g., faster times, more miles), the focus should be on shaping your identity as an athlete. When your routine and habits are aligned with the kind of athlete you want to be (identity), goal achievement will naturally follow.

Achieving outcomes—whether it’s performance improvements or achieving a personal best—is the natural byproduct as we work towards the the deeper, more meaningful transformation that happens when your routine reflects the type of person who you want to be.

A consistent routine literally shapes who we are, so let's make it a good one.

Wrap It Up

Changing your mindset isn’t about transforming who you are overnight—it’s about small shifts that compound over time. When we embrace hard work for the sake of the work itself, see challenges as opportunities for growth, and build routines that shape our identity, we set ourselves up for success in ways we hadn’t imagined.

And with this mindset, we can build a routine we love and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.