Hello all! I've been interested in a while for optimizing my racing mind. I've heard about plenty of strategies for increasing mental toughness while racing.
These include: - staring at the logo on the back of someone's singlet to the exclusion of everything else (including senations of pain/effort)
- tuning directly into sensations of effort/pain (asking yourself "What's so unbearable about this?"
- Getting a song stuck in your head
- Repeating some sort of short mantra or phrase that motivates you ("give more, get more").
- Thinking of people you admire (family, friends, teammates, etc.)and running for them
I'd love to hear what has worked for you in races where you've been particularly tough!