Coopah How To: Have A Positive Marathon Mindset
I cannot tell you how much of a difference the blue skies and sunshine has made to my life these last couple of weeks - the leggings and long sleeves have been put away, the sunnies are out and most of my runs have finished with that delightful post run sweaty glow. It finally feels like we have made it, and those long, dark, chilly runs are now a distant memory.
But yes, this also means that the Spring marathon seasons is almost upon us, and for those of us running the TCS London Marathon, we are now only 6 weeks away from event day and we are officially in the peak training window (if you’re looking for tips on how to manage that click here). But what that also means, is along with the excitement building, you may also be starting to feel pretty nervous too.
So with that in mind I wanted to share some proactive tips that you can do to help calm those event day nerves and help you go into your race feeling confident, motivated and excited to run.
IGNORE THE NOISE
In today’s world of social media, it’s easier than ever to connect with other runners, draw inspiration, and follow their training journeys. While this can be incredibly motivating, it also comes with a downside—the temptation to compare yourself to others. It’s easy to see someone else’s progress and feel like you should be doing the same. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to.
Even if we’re all training for the same event, every runner is different. What works for one person might not work for another, and countless factors influence our training.
Training for your first marathon? It’s unfair to compare yourself to someone running their 10th, with years of experience behind them.
Juggling long work shifts and family responsibilities? Of course, your training will look different from someone with fewer commitments.
Recovering from injury or dealing with setbacks? Pushing too hard to match someone else’s training could lead to further issues instead of progress.
Instead of getting caught up in what others are doing, focus on your own journey. Trust your plan, listen to your body, and run your own race. That’s what truly matters.
CELEBRATE YOUR WINS
Whenever you are finding yourself feeling nervous, or perhaps doubting what you are capable of, I want you to take a step back and look back at how far you have come over the last few months - and I bet you will find there are plenty of moments to celebrate.
If you are training for your first marathon, chances are you have now run the furthest you have ever run before in training, which is incredible. And I would also bet that when you first started this journey the idea of running for 3 hours for a training run, or bashing out a solo half marathon on a Sunday morning felt impossible right? But you did it, even if you doubted yourself beforehand.
So, if you're feeling nervous about the weeks ahead, remind yourself of everything you've already accomplished. In fact, here’s a little homework for you:
Look back at your training and pick out three highlights - moments you can revisit whenever you need a confidence boost.
Maybe you have completed a tough interval session that you once thought would be impossible.
Perhaps you have achieved a new PB (personal best) at an event or during a training run.
Or maybe there was a day you just really didn’t feel like running, but you laced up and did it anyway - and who knows, maybe even enjoyed it. 😉
No matter what challenges lie ahead, you’ve already proven to yourself that you’re capable of more than you once believed. Keep celebrating those wins - and these are also a great thing to have in your locker for race day too for those moments you need to dig deep.
REFRAME YOUR THINKING
As I’ve said plenty of times before, marathon training isn’t just about building physical strength - it’s just as much about training your mind. Some days will feel tough, and there may be days you just want to quit, and that’s totally normal. But having a few simple mindset tricks up your sleeve can make a huge difference.
For example:
Instead of thinking, "Ugh, I have to run today," try flipping it to, "I get to run today." – a little shift in perspective can turn a chore into a privilege.
Instead of dreading, "This run is going to be so hard," remind yourself, "This run is going to make me stronger." – every tough session is getting you one step closer to that finish line.
Instead of worrying, "What if I don’t hit my pace?" ask yourself, "What if I surprise myself?" – and keep reminding yourself that you are capable of more than you think.
It may seem simple, but just making these small tweaks to your mindset really can make a difference to not only your motivation but also really help to strengthen your marathon mindset for the day itself.
And a final reminder from me, training for and ultimately running a marathon is never going to be easy, there is a reason why only 1% of the entire population of the world have completed a marathon (definitely something to brag about at your next family gathering). So if there are moments you find tough, please don’t be hard on yourself and just remember that it will all be worth it once you cross that finish line on the 27th April 2025.
Keep going guys, we’ve got this.
Coach Jordan x