Solve Race Problems Fast

We dread the things we dread about races because we don’t think we’ll be able to recover and finish.

But there’s a fast, reliable way to solve most problems that come up in a race, like falling, getting lost, hitting a low, stomach problems, and losing time on cutoff.

It’s easy to learn - three simple steps to get you moving in the right direction.

1. Slice down to the facts.

Set aside the complaining about how it shouldn’t have happened, judgement about who’s fault it is, and the story about what this does to your race.

Be cutthroat.

Strip out all adjective and adverbs.

You didn’t have a bad fall - you fell and cut your knee, which is bleeding.

You don’t have only 20 minutes on cutoff - you have 20 minutes on cutoff.

2. Accept the facts.

Anything else wastes time and energy.

At Cloudsplitter 100 one year, a group of us reached a intersection in the trail with three possibilities. We couldn’t find a marker and didn’t know which way to go.

While the rest of us quickly accepted it and started devising a plan to split up and figure it out as a group, a guy standing quietly by himself exploded in a tantrum, yelling, “This is unacceptable! This is unacceptable!”

He didn’t help - we figured it out and dragged him along - because he’d used up all his energy arguing with reality.

He was done and didn’t finish.

Put your energy to better use.

3. Find one solution.

Ask yourself, “What’s one solution?”

Don’t ask for THE solution - ask for A solution. And then another.

When you ask for THE solution, you think up one or two options and start comparing which is best…and end up paralyzed by the decision. Especially if you’re tired.

Asking your mind for one solution avoids that pressure by creating momentum that helps it come up one solution and then…oh wait…another, and another.

Plus, it produces creative solutions that might be what works. Some of my races have been saved by the crazier answers to this question.

And that’s it - three steps.

Simple, easy to remember, effective.

And it’s just one way you can use your mind to help in a race.

You don’t have to go into another race hoping to avoid negative thinking. You’re actually the boss of your mind and can direct it, even though you probably haven’t had much practice at it.

If you want to get in charge of your thinking, that’s my expertise and I’m here to help.

Ultras are a true challenge that takes all of you, including mind and emotion.

I can help you master that side of the equation. Learning how got me to 134 100-mile finishes (so far).

If you want to learn mindset skills like this for your next race, start now. Give yourself time to practice, get one-on-one help, and get good at it.

Use this link to set up a consult call.

Fall races are coming and you’re going to be ready!