056: Using Inspiration to Dig Deeper when Running

This episode dives into the world of the inspirational pep talk.  We takes a few tangents along the way, but really try to view the pep talk from the perspective of both the coach and the athlete.  We also cover why the speech that gets you pumped up and ready to run through a wall can be a good and bad thing depending on how and when it is applied.

Coaches want to feel like they are helping the athlete as much as possible.  It is true that they generally plan the schedule and workouts. They help with mental tactics.  They try to manage the emotions of an athlete through rough patches. Eventually the coach may start to see their role as elevated.  

We realize that the coach is important.  Teaching is important. But in the end, it comes down to the athlete.  In all areas, the athlete is in charge. When the schedule says 5 miles, the athlete needs to do the work.  When the workout gets hard, the athlete needs to find the mental capacity to push. The athlete controls their recovery, sleep and eating habits.  Ideally, the athlete and coach form a partnership or mentorship, rather than a dictatorship. This may not always be the case, but it is here at Real Life Runners.  

So we come back to the idea of the pep talk.  This could take the form of an actual pep talk before a big race if you have a coach, or it could be self driven through an inspiring video or song.  The important question to ask is when to use it. In the movies, the big talk happen before the big game, but not before every game, and certainly not before every practice.  

Runners can only dig extra deep occasionally.  My best runners have generally been the ones who are consistently putting up solid, but not awe-inspiring, workouts on a regular basis.  Athletes do not want to end up putting out their best work in practice and having nothing left for the big stage. While I do like to see racing in practice on some workouts, that is not usually the goal.

Even hard workouts are often designed based on the athlete’s current ability with goal-paced work sprinkled in to see their potential.  Once runners have figured out how to go to that place of pain, and how to deal with it, they need less exposure. Asking an athlete to scrape the bottom of the physical and mental well every couple of days for a workout is a surefire way to create burnout.  For the weekend warrior who enjoys racing nearly every weekend, this means realiz

Join the Real Life Runners Team today! 

https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Gain access to my new secret podcast, Unbreakable: The Runner's Guide To Injury-Proofing Your Body After 40. Click here: https://www.realliferunners.com/secret

Join the Team! --> https://www.realliferunners.com/team

Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

Come find us on Instagram and say hi!

Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.