5 Internal Shifts

5 Internal Shifts

3 Minute Read

“It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” – Edmund Hillary

Many understand running/training as serving a very clear & direct purpose - to get us to the finish line. Or reach a new longest distance. Or improve pace. Or some other number to track.

More indirectly, and often overlooked, is how our training changes us internally, and who we become in the process. We’d argue too, that the development of character we achieve through training has far greater and longer-lasting impact than any new race PR.

So What Needs to Change?

Focusing on the external challenges of running is easy… and also a mistake.

Because oftentimes the training we’re putting in is really teaching us to change who we are.

We need to become the type of person who does hard things.
The type of person who stays consistent.
The type of person who learns to love the work.
The type of person who builds a routine they love.

So what are the internal obstacles that need to be overcome, in order to be the type of runner we want to be?

1. Breaking Old Routines

People do NOT like change. At all. It’s basically a core tenant of psychology.
Breaking free from familiar routines requires more than just physical effort; it demands mental resilience. The comfort of old habits can be a significant barrier to embracing new training methods or committing to a consistent routine. Yet, breaking these old patterns is crucial for growth and transformation. The key, as always, is to start small and make incremental changes over time.

2. Shifting Beliefs

“It won’t work for me.”
This mantra is one that we all say, in a variety of life contexts. This belief is not just a hurdle; it’s a mountain of self-doubt that can paralyze our progress. To conquer this belief, it must be replaced. And the only way to break this belief is to get yourself out on the trail, again and again, and prove to yourself that the training will work for you.

3. Overcoming the Fear of Quitting

The fear that we might quit before reaching our goals can be tricky. This fear is not always at the forefront of the mind, but it might always be present.
It’s not just about the physical act of quitting but the emotional weight of giving up on ourselves. Conquering this fear involves fostering a deep-seated commitment to our goals and recognizing that setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of it. Awful training sessions are not a reason to quit, rather they’re a reason to keep going.

4. Managing Mental Fatigue

Motivation always starts high. Always. But it can wane, and mental fatigue can set in ( especially during long/repetitive training cycles). Managing this mental fatigue is essential for maintaining a positive outlook and sustaining effort over time.
Motivation comes and goes, so just remind yourself to keep pushing. If motivation is low, just know that it’ll be back soon. Just keep going.

5. A Bit of Self-Compassion Never Hurts

The harshest critic is often ourselves.
Cultivating self-compassion involves recognizing our efforts and progress, even if they fall short of our expectations. Fixating on numbers can be a huge obstacle to overcome as we build ourselves into the runners we want to be. This internal understanding and flexibility is crucial for building resilience and maintaining a positive mindset.

Wrap Up

True success in running—and in life—is not about conquering the metaphorical (or literal) mountains. Rather, it is about being deliberate in your training, as it relates to the development of your character and becoming the runner you want to be.

And if we make the progression of our personal character the ultimate goal of training, we can build a routine we love, and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.

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