Life is pretty tough at the moment. It’s hard to stay motivated to train when the threat of cancelled races looms, we have restrictions on when and for how long we can exercise, and we might even have kids at home 24/7. Add to that, the general difficulties of life; work stress, relationship breakdowns, teenage angst in the home, sickness, injuries..the list could potentially go on!! How do we navigate this without giving up?

Quoting Dr. Phil: “You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge”, first we need to be fully aware of what is happening. We may think we are coping well, but here are some signs to look out for that show we aren’t:

• Overeating on unhealthy foods, or loss of appetite.
• Skipping planned sessions, or lacking motivation to train.
• Not sleeping well
• Consuming caffeine or alcohol more than usual
• Arguing with family members.

Just like the rest of you, I’ve had plenty of difficult times in my life, and have always exhibited all of these behaviours when I did. The one constant in my life, the one thing that kept me moving forward and not giving up, was running. I am sure it is much the same for you.

So let’s go over how we can use running to help us navigate these difficult times and those pesky ANTs (automatic negative thoughts)

• Firstly, sticking to a routine is good for your mental and physical health. You may not feel like doing a run, but I can pretty much guarantee it will make you feel better. Even a plod is better than staying in bed or sitting on the couch.
• Plan your meals and snacks and stick to them. If you don’t, it is so much easier indulge in treats/snacks that are not good for our health. I know it sounds regimented, but it really is a good habit to be in.
• Stay off social media/screens for the last hour before bed. Set up your phone to go into ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode an hour before you plan to go to bed. Read in bed to help you get sleepy. Have a cool to cold room with a window slightly open for fresh air. Make sure it is as dark as possible, with no glow from electronics if possible.
• Watch your social media usage in general. Try not to doomscroll too much. Feeding your mind negative news will only feed the beast.
• Decide on your coffee/caffeine limit and stick to it. Cut back on alcohol. I’m not saying eliminate either or both. However, cutting back on these will help with your sleep and your motivation levels.
• Ensure good communication with all family members. Pick your battles; sometimes it’s easier to just (once again) go with the flow rather than having to be ‘right’. Would you rather be ‘right’ and ‘win’ an argument, or be at peace? Often winning an argument is a big loss.

Next, how do we deal with cancelled races? This is a tricky one! I think in these times we need to learn to roll with the punches and not get so devastated when a race is cancelled or postponed. Life will go on. We need to learn to put these things into perspective. A good mantra I have is that ‘One day this will be a memory’. I find it really helps.
Also, what can you do instead? Could you put an FKT in there? A special challenge? A time trial? An online/Strava running challenge? Be inventive!

Remember that adversity doesn’t just build strength, it also reveals it! What is this difficult time/ability to cope with race cancellations telling you that you need to work on? The ability to stay in the present? Gratitude for what you do have?
Think of these difficult times as good mental training for ultras, developing resilience and grit. These traits improve performance when racing, and in all aspects in life! Humans are wired to focus on the negative, that’s how we’ve managed to survive! However, negative thoughts about how terrible race cancellations are and so forth lead you into a negative spiral. Thoughts guide emotions, which in turn guide behaviours which then determine results. If you want good results, be disciplined with your mind, and focus on positive things in life. Start a gratitude journal, only look at positive posts on Facebook/Instagram, avoid the news, listen to positive mantras through Spotify or YouTube, and focus on positive friends.
Remember, all training is good training. This is money in the bank, so to speak. Work on our weaknesses and build on your strengths so you become a robust runner who can race at their peak. This will make you a better runner!
Just know this; you are stronger than you think. You can and will get through this. You will race again. All is not lost. Look to the future, because remember that one day this will all be a memory (thank God!!!). 

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