Our lives are not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to what happens; not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst...a spark that creates extraordinary results.
"To love winning is easy; to love the battle requires toughness. Responding to crisis, adversity, and pressure with a sense of challenge and love of the battle is neither common nor normal. Instead, it is the mark of a winner, a leader, a champion." -James Loehr
Smile for the Camera: As you run, imagine a TV camera following your every move. Picture people at home watching you on TV, thinking to themselves, "Wow, check out this fast runner. Smooth form!" The power of suggestion goes a long way. And once you "see" yourself running, think of ways you can run even smoother and look even better.
Run Relaxed: Imagine yourself being swept along a fast-moving stream. Flow with the current.
Imagining yourself performing well in a race can actually help you race better. Research indicates that the most effective imagery involves all of your senses. So picture yourself running smooth, taste the sweat on your lips, hear the crowd cheering as you approach the finish line. The more specific your visualization, the better.
Stretching It Out: To pinpoint the easiest way to reduce injuries, the armed forces asked a group of basic trainees to stretch only their hamstrings four times a day. The trainees reduced stress fractures, knee pain, muscle strains, plantar fasciitis, and shinsplints by 12 percent compared to trainees who didn't stretch.
Relax: 1. Lie down in a quiet place. 2. Tense and then relax your muscle groups. Say to yourself, "My feet are heavy and warm, my legs are heavy and warm" and so on, until your whole body feels relaxed and ready to sink into the ground. 3. Breathe deeply and slowly. Feel the stress and tension leave your body with every exhalation.
"Whatever the emotion, whether it ranges from annoyance to rage, from disquiet to terror, from guilt to remorse, one of the best remedies is vigorous action. Sport is the therapy best suited for the instant treatment of emotional distress." - George Sheehan
"Everyone has the desire to win, but only champions have the desire to prepare." --Overheard during the 1997 Boston Marathon
Whether running a mile, 5-K, or 10-K, things typically go bad during the third quarter of the race, when you're tired and the finish line is too far away to grasp. To survive this critical point of a race, think positive thoughts, concentrate extra hard on catching the racer ahead of you, and don't look at your watch.
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