Happy Hump Day and welcome back to the Running Coaches’ Corner linkup! Since it’s race week and my city is abuzz with excitement and nerves, I thought I’d share a few words of wisdom to those of you tackling half or full marathons, or even 5K races. More specifically, I’d love to share some of my favorite mantras I use when the going gets tough. These are the sayings I go to when I need to dig deep to get work done.
If I have a tough race ahead, I do a lot of visualization before the race. I picture myself in the starting corral, I envision the course and how I’ll feel through the different miles, and then I see myself crossing the finish line feeling strong and accomplished. Despite my mental toughness and resolve, there’s always the inevitable self-doubt that can creep in at any given time in a race — particularly in the later miles when the hard work is really getting underway. It’s at this time that I pull out one or two mantras that will put me in a positive headspace to keep going.
Hopefully you’ll find some benefit to one or two of these mantras and they’ll work for you, too.
16 Mantras to Dig Deep and Get Work Done
1. A strong woman looks a challenge dead in the eye and gives it a wink.
2. Do epic shit.
3. Beast mode never sleeps.
4. Commitment is pushing yourself when no one else is around.
5. You had the power all along, my dear.
6. She needed a hero, so that’s what she became.
7. The body achieves what the mind believes.
8. Never given, always earned.
9. Only the strong survive.
10. Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.
11. You’ve got this!
12. Trust the training.
13. Nevertheless, she persisted.
14. No excuses.
15. Beast mode.
16. She believed she could, so she did.
Racing is hard work. Heck, even a long run is hard work. Whether you’re tackling your first 5K or your 50th marathon, use these mantras to help you dig deep and get hard work done on race day. Trust the training — you’ve got this!
And as a special thank you for being an awesome blog reader and a nod to your accomplishments, I’m happy to give away a Motivate Wrap from Momentum Jewelry. The winner will choose the mantra of their choice! Good luck — may the odds be ever in your favor.
xo
TALK TO ME!
What’s YOUR favorite mantra when you need to dig deep?
Are you racing this weekend?
Loading InLinkz ...Also linking up with Nicole, Annmarie, and Jen today for Wild Workout Wednesday!
Giveaway details: Giveaway starts May 17, 2017 at 12:00 am EST and ends May 24, 2017 at 12:00 am EST. Winner will be contacted via email and has 24 hours to respond. If first winner chosen does not respond within that time, another winner will be chosen. Open to U.S. residents only. One prize per person. Void where prohibited.
67 Comments
These are great mantras! Ive always liked “The body achieves with the mind believes”. Its so powerful to realize how much control our minds have over our bodies!
Right? The mind is a powerful thing!
Nevertheless she persisted is my fave, currently. For any matter of reasons!
Agreed! I use it all day, every day. 🙂
Mine are “I am strong. Runner. I got this. Runner. “. When shit gets real, I name my breaths: in in in; out out.
That’s a great mantra. You’re going to kill this race, girl. Your training has been on point!
I was thinking I wasn’t racing but I guess a triathlon is a race. Eeeek!
It is totally a race!! So excited for you. 🙂
Took me a while to find mine “don’t stop when you’re tired, stop when you’re done”
That’s a great mantra, and one I’ve used before — many times!
These are great mantras. I especially like “Do Epic Shit” – I might need to get that on a Momentum Jewelry Wrap, lol. My mantra for this year is “No Excuses”!
If only you could see me nodding in agreement. 🙂 No excuses is one of my all time favorite mantras.
My mantra for workouts is “hard is where it happens,” but I think I may adopt “nevertheless, she persisted” for racing .
Hard is where it happens is great! I love that!
Mantras are where it’s at! Love this collection!
Thanks, Julie!
“Do epic shit.” Love it! Haha! 🙂
It’s one of my faves! 😉
Not this weekend, but next weekend. I posted today, but taper paranoia is real right now.
You’re going to do great! Don’t be paranoid. You’ve got this!!
Actually, Dig deep is one of my favorites! I used “don’t get cocky” a lot training for the trail race (as in don’t run too fast & fall on your face!).
Don’t get cocky is a good one. Especially for something new like a trail race!
Mine is stay strong, be strong. I like “the body achieves what the mind believes”. Staying positive helps so much!
It really does! And mantras are useful in training and racing, so I like to practice during long runs. 🙂
I’m not sure I have ever used a mantra. I have a handful of songs that I put near the end of my playlist for any race – those are my signal that it’s time to push to the end.
I use music as my queue, too. One time it backfired so bad though because I had it on shuffle. I was running way too fast at the beginning and way too slow at the end! #facepalm
I love mantras and visualization for racing. I also like to zone in on music when it starts to hurt.
Choke on greatness!
That’s a great one!
I love ALL of these… but DO EPIC SHIT is my favorite! Great post!
It’s one of the better ones. 🙂
First time I’ve heard it but I like “Do Epic Shit”! Ha 🙂
I also like to tell myself “You’ve got this!”
Thanks for the giveaway – I just gifted one to my mom and I should have given one to myself too!
Aw, that’s so nice of you! Which one did you get her?
DO EPIC SHIT!!!
OMG, I almost wrote this post (or a variation on it) for today, even including the Wrap giveaway! Guess I’ll have to change my Friday 5 post! ? Though I’ll still have the giveaway.
By the way, I’m currently wearing my wrap that says She Believed she could so she did. My other favorite is Nevertheless she persisted. And I’m wearing my necklace that says Invincible, my favorite mantra being the lyrics from I am Woman. ?
How funny! Don’t change your Friday five! I’m sure it’s fabulous. Great minds think alike, lady. ? All the way down to mantras. ?
The body achieves what the mind believes is my current favorite. It’s so true!
You’re absolutely right — it is SO true!
These are all awesome! My go-to mantra has been Be Strong.
I love that one!!
I go through phases with mantras…my current favorite is “Sustain.” It’s a simple word that helps me to just keep going without “needing” to forge ahead out of the misery, but it also encourages me to not quit.
Sustain is perfect for ultra running, I’m sure. I’ll put that in my pocket for my next race. 🙂 Thanks for sharing it.
I love the “she believed she could, so she did” line. I’m not too much for mantras, but sometimes, ou just need to start pumping yourself up and reminding yourself why you’re out there after all.
It’s definitely one of my all time favorites, and one I go back to again and again.
I’m pretty nervous for Saturday but I know from past experience that when I race there is a bit of adrenaline to push me along. Good luck this weekend!
Don’t be nervous. You’ll do great!
That is a great collection of mantras, I love them all! She believed she could so she did is one of my personal favorites. If I don’t believe I can do it- then who will?
I agree, it’s one of my very favorites. And one I use with my runners, too. Because like you mentioned, who will believe in us if not us?
Love the first mantra, haven’t heard that one before!
It’s one of my faves! 🙂
I need to work on my mental game for race day. I always say I will use a mantra but then I end up forgetting that it’s a tool I have! #fail
I love that “Nevertheless she persisted” has stuck and is seen all over now. I think I will use that for my half marathon on Saturday 🙂 I just have to remind myself 😛
It’s one of my faves. Obviously. 🙂
When you find the one that resonates with you, write it on your arm. Works like a charm.
I will have to borrow a few of these mantras to mix it up! Dig deep has definitely been one of my favorites.
Borrow them all, my friend!
My favorite is what doesnt kill you makes you stronger, don’t ask why, but it works for me.
I totally get that, girl. That’s one of my faves as well.
I had one that said “dig deep” but my dog ate it!
OMG! Lol! That’s tragic!
[…] And now I’m off to start this amazing weekend of racing and fun! Good luck to all my friends and clients running and racing this weekend. So many awesome races going on and a lot of long runs happening over the next couple days. Swift feet and good running vibes to all. Don’t forget to use a mantra! […]
i love mantras for running! This weekend is all about she believed she could so she did! and BREATHE!!!!!
I have one that says “the joy is in the journey” and I love it!
One mantra I’ve been using recently is “feeling good, lookin good, oughtta be in Hollywood.” It always makes me laugh and feel like a bada$$.
I’ve used the mantra- You never know who you are inspiring. Yeah there are faster people out there, but there ARE people out there being inspired by your hard work and dedication.
No excuses! Loved your tips and mantras! These ones made me laugh so much!
Great! I hope they help 🙂
Loved those mantras… it’s always good to have one available for that ‘pinch moment’…. one of my favorites: Pain is temporary. Pride is forever.
Yes! I LOVE that one! Especially at the end of a hard race.
[…] that’s for sure! If you need a mantra or two to get you through a tough race, check out these 16 Mantras to Dig Deep. But if you don’t need a mantra and you just need a little nudge or some reassurance, check […]