For those of you who were following along. I didn’t finish Lead Challenge. Once again, I was cut-off on the bike, this time at sixty-three miles. Then cut-off on the run a week later at…sixty-three miles.

While I felt ‘stronger’ on the bike I wasn’t faster. For three years in a row, I came into the forty-mile mark at the same exact time – literally, you can’t get closer - four hours and seven minutes exactly. The run was a bit different. I was significantly faster and stronger but fatigue from the races slowed me to a crawl once I was on the big climbs. A big sign that durability was a problem.

Do you get in your head at the start of a race?

Keep asking yourself, ‘why am I doing this?’ as you contemplate dropping out of a race?

Finish part of a workout and start telling yourself ‘you suck, go do something else.’

Feel like an imposter?

You’re not alone. All athletes battle with up’s and down’s in their mental game. However, we’re not necessarily taught these skills and certainly isn’t what a lot of coaches are teaching.

Mental skills training is not just for elite athletes. Everyone can benefit from it. Whether you’re training for your first ultramarathon, racing Ironman Kona or trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, developing and enhancing your mental skills is not just going to prepare you for race day but longevity as an athlete.

Create space outside of your sport. Find time to connect with friends that aren’t your ‘running friends.’ Find time to work on the other parts of yourself - for some that may be art, music, or spending time with your family. Even just a little investment will help you prevent that foreclosure on on your identity. It will help prevent burnout, help you recover, and help you when times get rough.