This week, an experienced ultrarunner in my Facebook group said something I’ve heard but never said.

“I’ve lost my Why - how do I get it back?”

I hear this so often that I decided to share what I told her.

Ultrarunners consistently overthink their training.

While there are all kinds of rules, beliefs, assumptions, and decisions they made along the way and never re-think.

Those things need attention too because you might have outgrown them.

I talked with a talented runner once who was tortured by the pressure of living up to his potential.

He felt that if winning, running a fast time or setting a record was within his grasp, he should.

So he felt compelled to push everything, even as it became increasingly obvious that wasn’t sustainable.

The way to become fearless may not be what you think.

You don’t do it by forcing yourself to gut out the race.

You don’t do it by trying harder not to be afraid of the race

Did you know you can become more resilient?

You’re not born with it?

When people ask me how I’ve run 134 100-mile races, a high level of resilience is one of the secrets.

If I asked you whether you celebrate yourself, what would you say?

Yes, when you mean “not really”?

Sometimes?

Or, you will…once you achieve this or that?

If so, I’m going to invite you to celebrate more.

One of my clients was bemoaning the hours she’d wasted that week comparing herself to other runners.

She ended up feeling crappy about her ability, training, and chances at her big race. Everything.

She knew better and still did it.

“Why??” she asked.

Want to see what’s possible for you?

Do this one easy, super simple thing.

Stop thinking you have to be realistic.

At Zumbro 100 a couple of weeks ago, I had an experience that can easily send runners into negative thinking.

I got passed.

And I want to share how I cleaned up my thinking as I ran.

When you’re scared to join group runs because you’re slow and they’ll find out you're a phony.

When you’ve trained solidly for months but feel like a fraud at the starting line.

When you're uncomfortable talking about your race because you don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression you did something impressive.

One of my clients is facing a tough, important race she’s DNF’d before and isn’t sure she can do.

We’ve been improving her mindset about it and she was starting to truly believe she could do it when the email arrived.

The RD was changing the course to include significantly more climb.

People think I’ve done so many 100 mile races that it’s easy for me, hard for them.

But it doesn’t matter if you’ve done 1 or 133 like me. The same emotions and negative thinking come up.

The difference is, I manage it - I don’t let it manage me.

A favorite re-post from this weekend three years ago.

Time to thaw out and remember who you are…

I’m fortunate to be part of a rare group of ultrarunners who have close to or over 100 100-mile finishes and a host of other ultras besides.

I’ve spent enough time and enough miles with these friends to know we all have one key thing in common…

We’re not looking at what everyone else is doing to make our decisions.

The numbers on your watch are only numbers.

They’re meaningless until your mind interprets them.

If I told you “35,” it’s a neutral number. By itself, it doesn’t mean anything.

I often see runners having a hard time making a race decision.

Fighting an internal battle about whether to run Race A or B.

Whether they’re ready for a 100 mile race.

Re-sending this one by request.

100-mile season is coming - 17 tips and some perspective to get your mind right!

_____________

Getting confident at 100-mile races doesn’t magically happen the moment you finish your first.