Physiology gets you to kilometre 30. Psychology gets you to kilometre 42.
Mental prep doesn't have to be mystical. Three concrete tools cover most of what works.
- 1
Visualisation
Spend 10 minutes daily in race week walking through the course in your head — start corral, mid-race, the wall, the finish chute.
- 2
A mantra you actually believe
Pick three short phrases (3–5 syllables). Test them on long runs. Discard any that feel cheesy. Keep the ones that work.
- 3
Bad-patch protocol
When it hurts, narrow focus: next aid station, next km, next gel. Don't think about finish times. Think about the next mile.