Mindset and Running

Running has taught me a lot about life. One of those life lessons is that mindset matters, a lot more than I think! Although I do not believe that mindset matters to the extent that a person can "manifest" things into being, I do believe that mindset helps a person achieve full potential.

I think I read about the power of mindset in running first from Elizabeth Clor. She wrote a book about how her mindset held her back from qualifying for the Boston marathon, and how work with a sports psychologist helped her shift away from a cycle of failure (Clor, 2016). Clor has now run the Boston marathon at least four times (Clor, n.d.). Steph Bruce has a GRIT motto, which she uses to encourage herself to dig in deep physically, as well as mentally (Bruce, 2018). I never really thought about mindset and running until I wanted to get faster.

I practiced the GRIT mindset and dug in before I went further into mindset. I did that first in my third 10k, digging in for the second part of my 10K when I found things getting hard. I ended up with a personal record [PR]! I practiced mindset more than physical moxie in my Thanksgiving Turkey trot. I was not really in shape, but wanted to try hard...and I PR'ed again. Repeat for the marathon and my most recent half-marathon when I am pretty sure I PR'ed by giving it my all in that last tenth of a mile. Apparently this is a thing, as Olympian Aliphine Tuliamuk PR'ed at the New York Marathon after not much training, but going in with an attitude that she was going to give it her all. Mental toughness is a big part of running (van Sprundel, 2022). Running is a mind and body sport.

Running well requires presence in the current moment. Be tough in the moment, and I might be able to tough out a good race, or finish a less-than-good race. Take on the whole race, and I might not try my hardest. I might be done, and not even finish. I heard somewhere the phrase, "Why not today?" That is a good phrase for running in the moment, and living in the moment, too. Why not live fully, give my best now, today? I am not guaranteed tomorrow.

Thinking well is not only beneficial for running, but in line with Scripture. Paul encourages believes to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (New International Version, 2011, 2 Cor 10:5). In the famous Philippians 4 passage, Paul encourages readers to think about "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable...excellent [and] praiseworthy" (v. 8). Having the right mindset requires taking captive anxious and fearful thoughts (Brooks, n.d.). It requires putting ego to death and thinking truth, about potential, but not in a prideful way. It seems having the right mindset is a discipline that takes practice.

I don't have mindset all figured out, but I am realizing that it matters a lot more than I thought, in running, and in life. Maybe it is a way my mind is growing wiser, even as my body ages. Maybe the former makes up for the latter? I don't know. Whatever the case, I hope with the Spirit's help, that I continue to improve my ability to practice a productive mindset so that I may do all things to my best, and to God's honor and glory.

References:

Brooks, A. (n.d.). Shut down the negative voice on your next run. Run to the Finish. https://www.runtothefinish.com/overcome-negative-thoughts-while-running/

Bruce, S. (2018, October 5). G-R-I-T. Steph Bruce. https://www.stephbruce.com/blog/2018/10/1/g-r-i-t

Clor, E. (n.d.) Race history. Racing Stripes. https://www.elizabethclor.com/p/marathons.html

Clor, E. (2016). Boston bound: A 7-Year Journey to Overcome Mental Barriers and Qualify for the Boston Marathon. Create Space Independent Publishing Platform

Feller, A. (Host). (2023, April 20). Live at the Boston Marathon with Sara Hall, Aliphine Tuliamuk, & Sara Vaughn. (No. 632). [Audio Podcast]. In Ali on the Run. https://aliontherunblog.com/2023/04/20/632-boston-marathon-live/

New International Version. (2011). BibleGateway.com. http://www.biblegateway.com/versions/New-International-Version-NIV-Bible/

van Sprundel, M. (2022, April 26). Running and the science of mental toughness. The MIT Press Reader. https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/running-and-the-science-of-mental-toughness/

Walking the Trail You're On

My mom and I took a hike this past weekend. It wasn't the trail we planned to take, but rather a connector to said trail. Mom kept commenting about ways she thought we could get to the other trail, where that trail must go, etc. Eventually, though, she said, "Well, this is the trail we're on." 

And I thought, "What a great metaphor for life."

Many of us right now didn't choose the trail we're on. Whether we're wrestling with COVID restrictions, COVID itself, changed work, no work, homeschooling, online school, making hard decisions, missing family, missing events, or something else, this isn't the life we chose. Even if we did make decisions that got us here, we didn't expect to be here. Or still here. And yet here we are. My tendencies when I'm not where I want to be are to first, complain. Then I might try to see if there is a shortcut to get where I want to be. Next I might try to rush to the next destination. Then I might gripe again. I don't want to enjoy the mile I'm in.*  I just want to get out of here and get to the next place. Life doesn't work like that.

I said to Mom many times that I enjoyed the trail we took. We felt the warmth and cooling of the air as the trail rose and fell. We watched the sun rise. We absorbed 180 views of the mountains. We spent time together. We got in our daily exercise. The hike wasn't the one we chose or even set out to do, but we enjoyed it nonetheless. We enjoyed it because we chose to do so.

How, then, can we apply this to life? How do we enjoy the trail we're on, even if it's one that chose us, rather than us choosing it? We can look for little joys: new experiences, flavors, tastes, touches, smells, sounds. We can choose to capitalize on what this time has, even if there are a lot of have-nots. We can use our eyes to look at the scenery, because even if it's not what we wanted to see, it might give us perspective, and we might not see it again. We can enjoy fellowship with the people God has placed us with now. We can feel our feelings and work through them. We can journal and write and take photos and document this time and this place. We can learn.

Mom and I had a good hike. We found some new trails we want to take. We think we figured out how to get to the trail we wanted to do in the first place. We're looking forward to the next hike. May the same be true of us in the seasons we find ourselves in now. May we look for the good, look for God, faithfully walk the trail we're on. And when we reach our next destination, may we look back and give thanks, walking the next trail with gratitude until we reach our final destination of heaven and roam no more.

*'Run the mile you're in' is a phrase attributed to Ryan Hall. I haven't read the book, but appreciate the perspective.

Everything is Out of Control!

I've been feeling like a failure as a wife off and on now for awhile. I just can't seem to meet my husband's needs the way I think I should. (He hasn't complained to me yet, however.) I've felt like a failure at work because I am not meeting productivity standards. I've felt like a failure as a Christian because I seem to struggle and struggle and can never seem to be content. I've doubted my salvation. There was the hike where I completely missed the boat when it came to finding the group I wanted to join. The many weeks when I didn't stick to my pre-set grocery budget. The times I didn't get dinner done at a reasonable hour. How I feel my body is failing me because of how fatigued I've been. The rain that rescheduled our company picnic. Getting rained out of running. Paper in the washer that made laundry that much more difficult and time-consuming. And now this corona virus and how I feel I've failed to adequately prepare our household because I haven't stocked up on non-perishables and other goods. Basically, I have a really high set of expectations for myself and I've failed, all of them. Everything seems out of control.

And yet. I believe that God is trying to teach me something through all of this. He is stripping away everything where I feel I should have control and showing me that I literally have no control. He is reminding me that my stress and anxiety serve no purposes other than to further tire and exhaust me. He is reminding me that my worth lies in Him and Him alone. He is reminding me that I have absolutely no success without Him. 

Oh, Lord, I believe. I believe that you made me. I believe that my worth comes from you. I believe that you are my sufficiency. I believe that you are my provider. I believe that you have preordained my days. Everything is out of my control, but I believe that everything is in yours. Oh, Lord, help my unbelief.

Six Lessons I've Learned From Being Sick

I hate being sick. Really, I do. But I also believe God is sovereign. And with me being such a doer, it seems like God often lets me get sick to remind me to slow down and rest. It's not the way I prefer to learn, but it seems like that is what God is allowing. So, without further ado, here's a few lessons I'm learning from this go-round with illness:

1. Being sick is out of my control. I can do everything I can to promote health and well-being, and still get sick. I can't actually control my body's ability to fight off the germs. I can control my response to illness, however. I need to work on acceptance.
2. Life is a gift, not a given. I often live life like I deserve it. I too often take for granted that every breath I take, every word I speak, every move I make is a gift. I am blessed, even if I get sick sometimes.
3. Nutrition matters. I'm not always hungry when I'm sick, but if I don't eat, how will my body have energy to recover? Some people rejoice when they're sick and lose weight. Not me! I want to feel better and get my energy back.
4. Some things I think are priority really aren't. When I'm forced to decide what really matters, there are less things than I think. Cleaning, exercise, looking good, makeup, overtime, etc. can all go out the window. I'll work the limited amount I need to and go home. I'd rather rest and get better.
5. Kleenex exists for a reason. I'm not a big fan of Kleenex and it seems like an unneeded luxury...until I get sick and have a runny nose. And then the softness of Kleenex is almost a necessity. Right now, I'm really thankful for Kleenex.
6. Having a support system matters. I'm so paranoid about germs that I'm not always present when people are sick. But the people I love are present for me when I'm sick. Their company and kind words make a difference.

Being sick isn't fun, but may I trust God more because of it. And may He be glorified even in, and especially in my illness.