Pillar 3: Mental Resilience
The last and probably most important part of success in an ultra is mental resilience. Even though it is vital, it is usually the part of training people talk about the least. Unlike your muscles or your heart, you cannot really measure mental strength with a watch or a bit of kit. But it is the one thing that decides if you finish the race or not.
What is Mental Resilience?
In simple terms, mental resilience is just keeping going when your mind is telling you to stop. If you have ever done something hard, you will know that feeling of wanting to give up. Being able to keep moving when you really do not want to is what mental resilience is all about.
In an ultra, this is huge because of the stress you put on your body. Your body wants to stay safe and comfortable, so when things get hard, your brain will try to protect you by telling you to quit. You would be surprised at how much further you can actually go if you can just push past those negative thoughts.
How to Build Your Mental Strength
Improving your mental strength does not have to be complicated. It starts with being consistent.
Following the Plan: Just sticking to your training plan is a way of training your brain. Every time you go out for a run on a cold morning when you would rather stay in bed, you are winning a small battle. Finishing every session, even when you have no motivation, builds up the discipline you will need on race day.
Doing Hard Things: You can train your mind by doing things that are uncomfortable on purpose. A great way to do this is cold showers. That first shock makes you want to turn the hot water on straight away. If you can make this a daily habit and stay under the cold water, you are training your brain to stay calm when things get tough.
My Mental Resilience Programme
In my coaching, I do not leave your mindset to chance. We put daily habits into your routine that are designed to test your grit every single day. They might be small or even a bit boring, but they prepare you for the struggle of a race. By the time you get to the start line, you will be mentally ready for anything.
I also teach techniques you can use during the race to help distract you when you are struggling:
Visualisation: Picturing the finish line and how you will handle tough moments.
Mantras: Using a simple phrase you say to yourself to keep focus.
Distractions: Using music or podcasts to take your mind off the effort.
The Final Choice
At the end of the day, when it is late in the race and the miles are adding up, it comes down to you. You are the only person who decides if you push through the pain or stop. If you stop, you might regret it later and never know how much further you could have gone.
Will you find a way to finish, or will you find an excuse to stop?
