With the Dublin City Marathon just around the corner I thought I would share some tips and advice I have given to some clients.

With the right approach and mental toughness, you can achieve your goal in the marathon whether it is to finish your first one or to set a new personal best. It all comes down to getting in The Zone and giving it your all as you reach that finish line. So, how can you mentally prepare for the marathon? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

Boost your confidence level by repeating empowering words

Simple phrases like “I am strong and powerful”, “Nothing can stand in my way”, “Going fast is effortless for me” might not seem like a lot, but these are things that will empower you and also make you stronger. The more you focus on reaching that next level and pushing towards the best results, the better it will be for you in the end. If you find in the event that you are really struggling you can remind yourself that “the next step wont kill me”. Keep saying thois over and over and you will be surprised how the cloud can lift and you are back to your pace.

Create a mental routine

A good way to eliminate anxiety and nervousness is to establish the right pre-running routine. Some people like to look over the course route, others want to stretch or jdo their specific warm up they have practiced. It all comes down to figuring out what works for you based on your training or other events that you have done before.

Set small goals

You have been trainig hard and pushing the limits in your sessions. Now that you have reached the start line it is natural to set a goal of finishing or running inside a certain time but it is always better to set shorter goals within the run. Get to the next mile marker is a short gola and if you find yourself struggling a little, set even smaller goals like, get to the next lamp post. This can be enough to keep you moving forward and get you over the finish line.

Eliminate any negative thoughts

It’s important to remove any negative thoughts or doubts you may get during the event. Once you can do that, you will find it a lot easier to stay focused. A great distraction technique is to count the steps you are taking. This has been shown to get people into the zone where everything else just disappears as they become more focused on each step. My personal favouite is to count each step I take up to 9 over and over.

Think about your achievements

A marathon isn’t just a regular run. It’s a test of your capabilities, and it’s something you need to be proud of. The simple fact that you are in a marathon makes a huge difference, and you want to think about it as much as possible. That’s why you need to think about your achievement, as it can bring you some amazing results and benefits all the time.

Don’t hesitate and use these tips to fully prepare for your upcoming marathon. Dealing with a marathon can be nerve-wrecking, but it’s also a test of what you can do and what you can achieve. Remember that nothing is impossible in life, all you have to do is to pursue this goal and prepare for it. Mental readiness is crucial for a marathon, so keep these tips in mind and use them for this weeks race!