Mantra

[Airhare75]

Do any of you use mantras when running to keep the monkey off the back?

How do you go about making one? Does anyone have any suggestions on further reading for this?

[moonmar Graduate]

I don't know about a mantra, but at the end of the parkrun last week I got through the last 500 metres by counting in twos up to one hundred. Seemed to work. Might try it again when I am flagging.

[GettingFitter Graduate]

Sometimes I regulate my breathing with 1,2,3,4. And hills are defeated with the little engine could

[pot58 Graduate]

I imagine what I will write on this forum.The thought of having to admit to not finishing etc or the elation of being able to say Done it!!! Is a great motivator.

[poppypug Graduate]

Mine is " Don't Give Up, Don't Give In "

Mind you, there are a couple of swear words in there as well, thrown in for good measure xxx

[Hidden]

Someone here ages ago suggested "I know I can, I know I can" - apparently its by the all-knowing Thomas the Tank Engine! It tickled me, and I use it all the time, even out loud sometimes!

For some weird reason, I find shaking my arms out helps too....must look like a real crackpot, waving my arms and muttering to myself...

[Airhare75 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Shaking arms is a good one- especially in a celebratory way- like "I won" he heeee.

[Airhare75 Graduate]

Tee heee poppypug! Think swear words are required sometimes.

I think it's no coincidence that Nike strap line is just do it, there is power in words so I think I am going to experiment with mantras a bit, hoping someone will recommend me a book to read.

[poppypug Graduate in reply to Airhare75]

Yes I agree with the Nike " Just do it " strap line.

Simple words, but very very powerful. xxx

[meadsey Graduate]

When I was using the podcast, I used the sh*the songs as motivation. "Ah, only 4 more sh*the songs to go" etc.

[Airhare75 Graduate in reply to meadsey]

Yes, I used to think along those lines too- however on the non- stop runs I just couldn't bear to listen to any so just started timing myself, but found the difference between good run and bad run was how I am thinking. That and whether I am running on a hangover...

[meadsey Graduate in reply to Airhare75]

Yeah I've had a couple of bad runs as well. I've just given up halfway through for no particular reason. (Other than I am knackered)

I have only been for one run without the podcast since completing the course, and that didn't go too well. Maybe I should download some be rubbish songs. From sh I teTunes

Perhaps.

[meadsey Graduate]

That should read sh*te

[Irishprincess Graduate]

I say " don't be a wimp. You can do this" . There are sometimes a few "f" words in there too which help enormously!

[rmnsuk Graduate]

I sing along to the songs on my iPhone (tom odell and metric at the moment, sometimes plain white t's). Swearing helps too - scientifically proven!!

[Airhare75 Graduate]

Love metric - help I'm alive!

[AncientMum Graduate]

Have been known to mutter "I can! I will!" over and over, although it occasionally mutates into "I bl**dy can and I bl**dy will!"

[teabreaks Graduate]

I mutter to myself JUST....KEEP. ..MOVING.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I use Juicy ju's push this body punish this body. It always makes me think of a sleek Panther covering the distance with ladylike ease, rather than my puffing swearing red face.

[runswithdogs Graduate]

My partner loves mantras to keep him motivated at work. One that he's printed off that is great for running is 'slow is smooth and smooth is fast'. It makes me think of a ninja running.

[Airhare75 Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

Definately ninja esque!

[AncientMum Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

I like that a lot!

[Airhare75 Graduate]

Reading about the psychology of mantras they have to be short (to repeat easily and meaningful relating to the person that is using it.

These are a few I have used, some nicked from other places and some things people have actually said to me

Run and become

Practice is progress

Look good feel great

I am so motivated to do this

Just do it

It never gets easier you just get better

Sweat is fat crying

[aliboo70]

Boz always says"Pain is just weakness leaving the body" Nearly thump him everytime he tries that with me if we run together(not often!)

I don't have one as such but try to think that if i have done this however many times before, today is not the day to give in! And i agree that being able to write about your achievements here keeps me motivated!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

Mine is,'Push that body, punish that body,'. I use it when it's really tough, and it makes me feel like Lara Croft

[dottiemay Graduate in reply to ju-ju-]

On a few of my really bad runs, I used your mantra but then realised that 'punish' wasn't the word I needed - I was already punishing it and it was punishing me back! So, with respect Ju, I amended mine to 'push that body, love that body'.

[the_tea_fairy Graduate]

I remind myself "if you don't puke, faint or die, keep going".

[GoogleMe Graduate]

Mine is Dory from "Finding Nemo" - just keep swimming, just keep swimming (often don't bother to translate it into 'running')

However, listening to R4 podcasts means I am often focused on not stopping before the end of the programme.

[Hidden]

My daughter's is 'winners never quit and quitters never win'. I can always remember it when I am sitting down but not when I am running !!

[Janglyshe Graduate]

On an occasion when I ran with daughter number 2 she was talking about style and technique and was saying ' pocket to socket' to help get my arms right. Now when I am flagging I say 'pocket to socket makes me a rocket'.

[Airhare75 Graduate]

Oh janglyshe! That's a lovely one. Personal and powerful. It's a good un!

[Anniemurph Graduate]

Mine is 'I'm a gazelle, I'm a gazelle!' (you have never seen anything less gazelle-like in your life)

[Airhare75 Graduate]

I often think of gazelles too- but I tend to liken them to others rather than myself!