I love this question and its implications for athletes over 30 and frankly, for all humans endeavoring to reach new heights of achievement!  The mind, the “internal world” as I call it, is the incubator for all we manifest in all areas of our human experience.  In other words what we “think” – consciously or unconsciously – directly affects how we “feel” and what we ultimately “do”, or our behavior.

While this model of “think > feel > behave” is not new per se, I have become increasingly more aware and interested in it as a result of working with Dr. Mary Pike, Psy.D. of Inside Job, Inc. on various projects focused on developing the leader within.  Your desire to run faster is coming from inside you, from a thought that came into your mind and that you chose to believe and act on.  You are the leader of your life.  Your running is the action or behavior resulting from your thoughts and feelings about what it means to you to challenge yourself in this way. 

So as you begin your journey to “run faster”, I offer this initial overview of key guiding principles to keep in mind along the way.  I offer you encouragement, too, that you take as much care of your internal world (mental and emotional fitness) as you do the other key areas of focus needed for improvement and excellence in running. 

• Spend time each day in quiet reflection or meditation.  This exercise brings many positive effects including concentration ability, states of body calmness and reduction of confusion caused by the complexities and uncertainties of life.  “Daily meditation is perhaps the single greatest thing you can do for your mind/body health. Meditation not only relaxes you, it gives your brain a workout. By creating a different mental state, you engage your brain in new and interesting ways”. (Mark Stibich, Ph.D.) 



• “The mind and the body are inextricably linked - how you feel physically affects how you feel emotionally. This means that you can improve your mental performance using physical interventions (relaxation exercises) and vice versa”. (George Karseras, senior consultant at Sporting Bodymind) 



• If you are experiencing anxiety, think about the positive effects of breathing deeply and noticing your breath.  Then do just that.  Fritz Perls, German-born psychiatrist and psychotherapist said, “Excitement minus a sufficient amount of oxygen equals anxiety.” 



• We have learned from quantum physics that what we focus on expands.  Paying attention to what you pay attention to is vitally important in shaping your perceptions and beliefs.  Be very clear about what you want and what you believe to be true about accomplishing it and your wherewithal to accomplish it. 



• Loehr & Schwartz in their book, The Power of Full Engagement wrote, “Perhaps nowhere do we so undervalue the importance of intermittent recovery as in the mental dimension of our lives.”  They offer these nuggets to bear in mind on pages 92-93:
   
• In order to perform at our best, we must access pleasant and positive emotions: the experience of enjoyment, challenge, adventure and opportunity.



• The key muscles fueling positive emotional energy are self-confidence, self-control, interpersonal effectiveness and empathy.



• Negative emotions serve survival but they are very costly and energy inefficient in the context of performance.



• The ability to summon positive emotions during periods of intense stress lies at the heart of effective leadership.



• Access to the emotional muscles that serve performance depends on creating a balance between exercising them regularly and intermittently seeking recovery.



• Any activity that is enjoyable, fulfilling and affirming serves as a source of emotional renewal and recovery.



• Emotional muscles such as patience, empathy and confidence can be strengthened in the same way that we strengthen a bicep or tricep: pushing past our current limits followed by recovery.

Please contact me with any questions or suggestions related to this important part of your unfolding plans and activities.  Best wishes in all you are up to!