What is an endurance mindset? It’s the state of mind that helps me get through some of the most grueling races. It’s the mindset that helps me understand I’m in it for the long haul, both in athletics and in life. It’s the state of mind that helps me keep my eye on the big picture and to avoid getting bogged down by the daily minutiae. It’s the state of mind that believes the adage, “this too shall pass.” The endurance mindset has worked wonders for me over the last 16 years and I wanted to share it with you in hopes that you may find some benefit.
Back in the year 2000, I ran my first marathon. I wasn’t very fast, but 6 weeks prior to that race I didn’t even have a marathon on my list of goals or possibilities. As far as I was concerned, I was never going to do a marathon. It was too long, it hurt, and it was for Olympians and professional athletes.
But when I crossed that finish line, my entire world changed. I was so happy with my ability to finish a marathon. At the time it the most grueling thing I’d ever done. I remember thinking to myself, “If I can do this, I can do anything!” I was elated, and yes, I was so sore I had to walk down steps backwards.
One of the great benefits of that marathon was the shift in how I started thinking about the long game. In a marathon or any long distance event, whether it’s a race, or a project for your business, or a paper at school, your endurance mindset will help you make it through way easier than if you stress.
I went on to do triathlons, adventure races, long distance mountain bike races, and even ultra marathons. I love endurance events and I love how they fuel my soul. Now, you don’t have to go out and train for all these crazy events just to get that endurance mindset. You can simply shift your thinking and it can happen.
First, avoid getting caught up in the all the small things. So many of us worry about the little things in life. I’m not saying to look away, I’m just saying not to give them to much weight in your life. Become the kind of person who let’s things go easily. Avoid holding grudges, you will be much happier.
Second, conserve, conserve, conserve. This is one of the best things that I learned. One example happens during my races. I’m also leaving 10% in my reserve tank, knowing that when I can see that finish line, I’ll have enough energy to finish strong. There will be times when you come across a big hill, in a race or in life, and it’s important, sometimes to take it slow on those hills. Sometimes we want to rush through things, but certain things need to happen in their own time. I think about my college education. It took my 5 1/2 years to complete a bachelor’s degree, but I moved and I had some pretty heavy life stuff happen to me. I could’ve given up, but thankfully, I was able to keep my eye on that big picture and graduate. At the time, it was one of greatest achievements of my life.
Third, sprint to the finish. I’m sure you’ve seen those iconic races where people dive for the finish line. It’s always quite epic. Sometimes people fall after their 100 yard sprint and of course, there’s the crawl across the Ironman finish line. While she wasn’t going fast, she was giving every last bit of her soul to make it. Part of the reason we conserve in endurance training is so that when we know we’re close to the finish line, we can power through the rest of the event. Sometimes there’s a huge adrenalin rush that helps us get there, but other times we have to will ourselves. It’s so much more fun to have that energy left to sprint, trust me on that one.
Finally, my hope is that you begin to understand and use your endurance mindset to help yourself through endurance events, but also for life. You can use it at work, school, or any other places you can apply these principles. In a nutshell, remember, ‘this too shall pass,’ so when the going gets tough, don’t avoid it, go toward it. Breathe deep and know that soon it will be over and you’ll look back on things with a much different mindset than when you were in the thick of it. Remeber, I’m always here to help, you can find me @teddymcdonald.
Originally published on the author’s website.
Wha that abt hard work that involves pain?