When you are looking at running, or any fitness feat for instance, it’s not only about how exactly well your body performs; it’s also regarding your mental strength. And that’s exactly what Olympic bronze medalist and long-distance runner Deena Kastor, 45, discusses in her new memoir, Let The mind Run ($27; amazon.com), on bookshelves today.
“Our choices, thoughts, and perspectives are the drivers of our physical ability,” explains Kastor, a long-time Asics athlete, who is racing the Boston Marathon next week. “A pessimist might have the ability to reach their goals, but decades of positive psychology would support that optimism makes reaching your goals easier-and could also provide you with the ability to reach beyond what you’ve ever expected from yourself.” Here,?Kastor shares a few of the mindfulness techniques she’s learned over the?miles.
“There are so many training programs available that talk about mile repeats, tempo runs, long runs. I figured that my greatest asset was my mind, and finding out how to cultivate it. All of the talent on the planet won’t do you any good because we have to pay equal attention to the brain and the body. So many of us obsess about training plans and what is getting us to that finish line, and that i will tell you now that the physical training is not going to reach your potential if you are not cultivating a powerful mind to get there.”
“We produce over 50,000 thoughts each day that shape our perspective, our voice, and our actions. I take advantage of all of these thoughts to be leading me in the direction I want to go. First, I give consideration by hearing my mind’s reaction, and then, I analyze how I might shape the idea to strengthen me.”
“Instead of dreading a difficult task such as training or deadlines, I believe of methods grateful I am for the chance to extend my limits or share my perspective.”
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“Sometimes when I’m challenged, I’m able to easily justify compromising. But it is not only about the immediate goal, and much more about creating mental habits of persistence, resilience and commitment. In training, every time I choose courage over fear, or persistence in the wake of challenge, I know I’m building myself more capable to handle challenges in life.”
“What I learned through the years of attempting to twist my thoughts and become better, stronger, more grateful-all these features of positivity which have helped fuel me?is the fact that that the process is never-ending. Even on the flight delay coming out to Washington the 2009 week, my first thought was, ‘Damn it!’?But then I was like, ‘Oh,?now I can try that caf I passed.’?And thus it is simply always twisting that, and running has educated me in that.?But, that is certainly best in everyday life.”
“That struggle in the marathon is my personal favorite part of the race. When it gets there, my first thought is ‘Oh no,’ after which I remember this is where I recieve to complete my best work. This is where I get to shine and get better, be much better than the person I am in this moment. I recieve to push my physical boundaries, my mental limits; and I genuinely have fun in those moments. And sometimes you just need telling yourself that exist to another mile, and when the next mile seems unbearable, it’s the next light post, and?when that does not seem possible, you say ‘OK what about a measure in a type.’ And when that seems excruciating, you think ‘let’s look at the signs everyone is waiting on hold the sidelines and completely keep yourself preoccupied.’ So it is just working through all those tools to reach that place that will get you to definitely the conclusion line. And sometimes you’ve that epiphany and feel amazing and often you just keep working until you arrive at the finish line-and you receive the to end result that you’re going after nonetheless.”
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“I remember considering how disappointed I was after a race-and sometime ago, I used to own that disappointment, and disappointment meant I was a failure. Also it took some twists and turns, and today disappointment means to me that I mind, and I know I have better in me, and let us get to higher and how will we do this. Therefore it is just showing that a few of these negative terms within our lives may very well be rooted in positive and therefore could be springboards for you. A variety of it is due to having a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. Like disappointment means this is because good like me and I am a failure, whereas disappointment often means for you to do better, this is when I am, how can I pursue it and obtain better out of this moment. That which you did wrong, that which you did right, after which move ahead from it.”
“Our minds are shapeable, trainable, and deserve exactly the same, or even more?attention than our physical bodies.”
“In the dedication of my book, I dedicated it to my coach, Joe Vigil, at the time. He was my first professional coach and that he coached me for eight years. He taught me the value of exactly what we have, everything we possess-whether time, money, knowledge, food-the value of zinc heightens exponentially the moment it is shared, and that i love that. For those who have an abundant harvest in your garden, there’s nothing much better than sitting around the table and preparing beautiful meals to share with friends and family. Whenever your days are busy, there’s nothing like sitting down and sharing a cappuccino having a friend who is also trying to find time for you to connect. With all of that we understand, the truths that we find through running, life, our work-sharing by using others is such a valuable and empowering process.”
