Visualisation and running

I've been fighting exercising in the cold, since I have traditionally hated it, and since it contributed to me getting sick and having lung problems last year.

But I came across a great article in Runners magazine that talked about how to get beyond the mental block of running in winter.

I shouldn't complain because it doesn't even snow here. But the wind can be really bitter and dang, I was raised on an island so I'm a wimp when it comes to cold.

But I found the advice really helpful:

• Develop a strategy: knowing how you're going to tackle a problem beforehand is a powerful inner motivator
  
• Identify your challenges (cold, wind, dark?)
• Create an action plan
• Rehearse it through visualisation: picture yourself carrying out your plan. Keep playing the scenario in your mind so that when it comes time to run you'll follow thru again and again.

I was able to come up with some solutions, so I feel so much better about being able to do this & WANTING to do this.

I also liked this quote from the article: Psychological stamina is the greatest advantage a runner can have when faced with obstacles.

In my last post on visualisation and time management, I mentioned how elite athletes are incorporating visualisation into their dreams. This is what that article said:

Athletes who envision themselves performing well throughout the day tend to have these positive visions at night in dreams - most likely because they are reinforcing the image of success in their brains. 

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Tags: Visualization