4 ways I’ve learned how to hang on (mentally) during hard efforts:
The physical part of competing, challenging yourself, or spending 18 hours doing something grueling is definitely a piece of the performance puzzle. But have you noticed what sets apart the good from the greats? It’s not the amount of carbs they eat, though that’s a pretty insane number, but what goes on in their heads when things get hard.
Personally, I’ve taken some tips from a variety of intense ultra athletes (thank you Courtney Deuwalter & Sally McRae).
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Smile.
Sounds pretty stupid. But it’s like faking it until you make - to the extreme. When you’re faced with physical pain or tough effort, smiling can flip that switch in your brain to a different focus. When I do this, I naturally start to think of all the good things happening - the views, the ability to be outside, the crazy resiliency and growth that’s going on, etc. It’s like turning on the optimism. And, you always look better when you’re smiling.
You are making an ACTIVE decision to do this.
Knowing that there is zero pressure to continue, that you are not forcing yourself to do this but that you, in fact, WANT to, can help shift your perspective. You know can stop whenever you want. You can quit. You can turn around. But most likely, you don’t want to give in to that moment of weakness. This is where you grow from being “good” to being “great”.
Pain is temporary.
When it’s been 14 hours and I’m crawling my way out of the wilderness and it feels unbearable, I start to repeat this to myself. The hurt in my feet, the mental exhaustion, it will all end. And as soon as it’s over, I’ll wish it wasn't. To recognize the pain, to let yourself feel it at the core of your being, and then to move forward - that is true power right there.
Growth is Inevitable.
At the end of the day, whether or not it went the way you planned, you can always say you learned something. That’s the beautiful thing about adventure sports - the many variables that play into them keep you on your toes, and also allow you to place blame on external sources. This can help with motivation and keep you from running from a failed attempt. Maybe the incline was insane, the trail disappeared, the scramble was intense, or maybe you just didn’t have adequate water or food. But you still tried. You still learned how to better prepare. Or maybe, you learned that you are way more capable than you thought.
