As you can see,
there are many components or aspects of this thing we call “mental toughness.”
There are certainly more questions than answers to the question. In thinking
and researching this topic, I decided and applied it to my 2002 Western States
100 mile one day trail run. I believe that I have elicited some of the
motivational or psychological components that allowed me to be successful,
while running this grueling event that summer day in June. I refer to the following psychological ideas
as principles and they are as follows:
1.
Achievement Goal. In order to accomplish a major
feat, task or athletic competition, it’s important that one has a goal. With
the goal, the individual is able to look ahead [to future] and plan the various
steps necessary for its attainment. It’s important that the goal is concrete,
as well as clearly defined. This not only means that the goal must be concrete,
but it must be easily measured as well. In my case, my goal was to complete
this 100 mile run. Either I completed it or I didn’t. In any case, it was
clearly measurable. And, I was going to be either successful or not. There was
no ambiguity regarding my task. Further, my goal had to be reasonable and
attainable by me. I didn’t want to set up an unrealistic event as far as my
athletic and mental abilities were concerned. Also, I had to have complete
control over the outcome. The completion of this event was about my performance
and my performance alone. My performance was not dependent on any one thing or
anyone else. It was my brain, my lungs, my legs alone, etc.
While having a major goal, such as running
100 miles in one day, it was necessary for me to install many sub goals prior
and along the way. To illustrate, that meant such tasks as running the hills, increasing stamina, running at night etc. or sub goals.
It was also necessary for me to figure out hydration, nutrition, and
electrolyte balances as well. Proper running shoes, wearing apparel, containers
for water, etc. were also part of the program. I even ran a half marathon, one
50 K and two 50 mile running events as shorter or sub goals before my main
event.
More to follow
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