Joly Smokes! Watching the Javelina Jundred from the sidelines last weekend I was witness to an amazing spectacle. I saw people from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, and all ages get to the starting line and take on the incredible challenge of running a hundred miles or hundred kilometers in the desert, under some of the hottest conditions this race has seen.  I love this race for many reasons, most of all as a sport psychology professional I can witness people do something extremely challenging and see them all at multiple points during the race, you get to witness mental skills in action. The following are just some of what I saw from the sidelines.

It’s fall and within the next couple weeks some of the biggest marathons in the country will be taking place: Chicago, New York, Philidelphia! I’ve always felt a nervous energy when race day approaches but I know I’m not alone. Pre-race jitters affect everyone, from first-timers to seasoned marathoners. The anticipation can stir up a boat load of excitement, anxiety, and self-doubt.

The good news: those feelings are normal and can even be redirected into a positive experience.

When did running a hundred miles become a normal every task? Add a hundred mile bike ride and fifty mile run to that and the task becomes immense. Those aren’t normal every day tasks, even running a marathon isn’t a normal everyday task! However, normalizing it is easy to do when you surround yourself with ultraendurance athletes every day and also work with, and associate with, the best coaches in the business. I do this for a living, so it’s easy to see how it becomes normal in our minds.