Folks, I have a giveaway for you! I think a lot of us have heard about the three amazing men that set the challenge to run across the Sahara. They did the run to raise awareness for the water crisis in Africa through the H2O Africa Foundation. Their incredible journey was captured on camera and you can now download it off of iTunes.
But…I have some free downloads off of iTunes to give away free to some lucky readers! If you want to enter for the chance to win:
- Tell me in the comments what inspirational phrase gets you through those tough times in a race or training- at mile 20 of a marathon, or pushing up those hill repeats, whenever. Those inspirational phrases have always escaped me, so I’d appreciate a few ideas!
- Become a follower of my blog and you’ll get two entries!
Everyone who leaves me a comment by the end of Saturday, February 14th will be entered. My apologies my Canadian compatriots, but unfortunately this is only available for folks in the US. Fingers crossed, it should be available for us within a month or two!
Spread the word, and good luck!
So I’m not the best with coming up with inspirational phrases (I would defer to Frayed Laces or Running Laminator instead, heehee) but I remember when I was really trying to push myself during 5Ks and stuff, I would think of this drill sargeant-like kickboxing instructor I had back in the day. She was so intense and barked at us in such a way that it would definitely help me push myself more if I imagined her yelling in my ear during races.
Mine is not inspirational but I always end up using “Every step is one step closer to the end”.
It keeps things in perspective and makes me realize if I just keep moving it I will reach my goal faster. But if I stop/walk, etc, it will only prolong the pain.
Whatever works, right? LOL!
I also have been thinking of the scenes from this movie when they are plugging away in the desert. For some reason, thinking of them running in all that heat makes my run seem easier.
Oooh, I have been wanting to see that!
Mine is a mantra that someone shared with me before my first marathon – Pain is temporary, pride is permanent.
I’m with Laurel. I always use the “faster you run the faster you can be done” either that or I start telling myself how much “I love it” which usually makes me mad (for whatever reason)?! And keeps me going.
Oops, just realized it’s not available in Canada. Oh well, good luck to the Americans. 🙂
Since I run so I can eat, my mantra is “pizza and beer at the finish. Pizza and beer at the finish.”
Right now my mantra is, “I’m so glad I’m not Canadian!”
I use this before an interval starts and about the mid point of long races, “It is going to hurt…but there is an end…finish!”
I used it at Ironman Florida last year. At mile 13 of the marathon I started telling myself that the pain was going to come, but just run through it.
Of course at mile 25 I was saying out loud, “Only 1 mile left.”
I usually rotate a few borrowed mantras in my head:
Pain is temporary, pride is forever.
You vs. You
One more mile!
When I’m at the end of a run and it’s hurting, I tend to have the lyrics to Kanye West’s “Stronger” going through my mind. Particularly “Now that that don’t kill me / can only make me stronger” or the refrain that repeats throughout, “Work it harder, make it better / do it faster makes us stronger.”
Hey Leanna,
Every time I don’t go for a run, this is my mantra.
“Fitness can’t be stored, it must be earned over and over, indefinitely.” Ted Corbit
Simple, to the point, and gets me out the door.
Thanks for the sweepstakes. Pretty cool idea.
Aloha,
Jeff
Hellooo, Leanna!!
Mine is similar to Laurel’s..”One foot in front of the other will get you to the FINISH line.” As well as, “DLF>DNF>>DNS!”
I like that DLF>DNF>>>DNS!
Mostly I just think, “I’m doing this”. It’s silly, but I usually think I can’t do something so realizing that I’m actually doing it and that I can do it, makes me feel better. It’s my version of “just do it”
I say to myself, “suck it up!” a lot and also use the classic, “no pain, no gain.”
(Also, for Canadians, a Mac Genius told me if you buy a U.S. iTunes gift card you can then set up a U.S. iTunes account.)
Keep Moving Forward. A favorite Disney quote that can also usually convince me to keep putting one foot in front of the other:)