Do you ever feel like you need a little extra push when you’re running? That’s where mantras come in. Mantras are positive statements or phrases that can help give you the motivation you need to reach your goals. In this blog post, I’ll share the best running mantras out there! I’ll also provide tips on how to use these mantras to help you run faster and achieve your fitness goals.
I’m not a natural runner and in fact, I hesitate to call myself a runner because I’m so slow. But I have completed a full marathon and two half-marathons. I essentially went from couch potato to my first marathon. So I needed all the help I could get. Many days while training and on race days, I found that I needed a little extra motivation on those hard days or tough courses. And that’s how I started using running mantras.
I found that in addition to my marathon training, I also needed to work on my mental fitness. I did all the hard work to run strong, including working on developing a strong mind.
What is a Running Mantra?
The word “mantra” is derived from the Sanskrit word “man,” which means “to think” or “to reflect,” and the suffix “-tra,” which means “tool.” Thus, a mantra is a tool for thinking or reflecting. And powerful mantras are believed to protect the mind from negative thoughts and influences. The word mantra can be translated to mean “instrument of the mind.”
So, what is a mantra for running? A mantra is simply a phrase or statement that you repeat to yourself during your run. It can be used as a form of meditation, a mental trick, or as a way to keep your focus while running.
Mantras are often used in yoga and other forms of exercise, but they can also be used while running. For runners, mantras can be used for many different purposes, including helping to increase motivation, reducing stress, improving performance, and maintaining motivation.
Mantras can be anything that you find motivating or inspiring. This can be something as simple as “I can do this!” or “Keep going!” Repeating these short phrases to yourself can help you stay focused and motivated throughout your run.
The best mantras are positive and specific to what you want to achieve during your run. For example, if you’re trying to pick up the pace, you might say “faster, faster, faster” to yourself. Or if you’re running a long distance and starting to feel tired, you might tell yourself “I got this, I got this.”
Can Mantras Help You?
But can running mantras actually help you run faster? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether or not running mantras can help you run faster. Some people find that the repetition of a mantra helps them to focus their attention on the task at hand and ignore distractions. Others find that mantras help to keep them motivated when they are feeling tired or sluggish. Ultimately, it is up to each individual runner to decide whether or not using a mantra will be helpful.
However, studies have shown that using mantras can help improve your performance by up to 15%. That’s because when you repeat positive statements to yourself, it helps increase your self-confidence and belief in your ability to reach your goals. This increased confidence can lead to improved focus and motivation, which in turn can help you push harder and run faster.
One study found that participants who chanted a mantra while running were able to run further and with less fatigue than those who did not chant a mantra.
A lot of runners, even elite runners, use mantras to help with their mental toughness and a positive mindset.
How to Use Running Mantras
So how can you use running mantras to help you reach your goals? First, it’s important to choose a mantra that resonates with you and is something that you can believe in. Something short and positive is usually best.
Once you’ve chosen your mantra, repeat it to yourself during your run. Focus on saying it with conviction and believing in its power. You may even want to write it down or say it out loud before your run to get yourself pumped up!
The best way to use your mantra is to repeat it throughout your run, especially when you start to feel tired or like you can’t go on. And also repeat your mantra outside of your runs.
How to Create Your Own Mantra
If you’re new to using mantras, start by thinking about what you want to achieve during your run. Do you want to run faster? Go further? Feel stronger? Once you have a goal in mind, come up with a short phrase or word that encapsulates that goal. It can be something as simple as “faster,” “further,” or “stronger.” Repeat the mantra to yourself throughout your run, either out loud or in your head.
You can also create your own mantra by thinking about what motivates you to run. Maybe it’s the feeling of crossing the finish line, the feeling you have at the end of a long run, or the satisfaction of a personal best. Whatever it is, use that as your mantra and let it push you towards your goals.
You can use one of your favorite motivational quotes or song lyrics. According to Gloria Balague, a sports psychologist,
The words have to be right to draw the right response from inside of you. The wrong words will have no emotional echo, no emotional resonance. Self-awareness is an important psychological skill. You have to know what works best for you.
It is best to keep your mantra simple. A long or complicated mantra can be difficult to remember and may end up being more of a distraction than a help.
Once you have your personal favorite mantra, it is important to repeat your mantra regularly throughout your run. Use it the next time You may need to experiment with different mantras and repetition rates before you find your favorite mantra and what works best for you.
Best Running Mantras
If you have trouble coming up with your own mantra or just need some inspiration for a new mantra, here are 31 of the best running mantras to help you run faster:
I can do this. This mantra is simple but powerful. Repeating it to yourself will help you push through tough moments and reach your goals.
Pain is just weakness leaving the body. This mantra can help you reframe how you think about pain at those hard times of a race. Instead of being something negative, pain becomes a sign that you’re getting stronger.
One step at a time. This mantra helps remind you to focus on the present moment and not get overwhelmed by the task ahead.
I am strong. This mantra will help you tap into your inner strength and power through tough runs.
I am fast. This mantra will help increase your confidence and help you run faster.
I can do anything. This mantra is a reminder that you are capable of anything you set your mind to.
Never give up. This mantra is a great motivator when things get tough. It reminds you that giving up is not an option.
Push through the pain. This mantra is a reminder that the pain is only temporary and that you can push through it to reach your goals.
Finish strong. This mantra is a great way to motivate yourself to give your all during the last few minutes of those long races or runs.
Believe in yourself. This mantra is a reminder that you have the power to achieve anything you set your mind to. Believing in yourself is key to reaching your potential.
Too much grit to quit. This mantra is a reminder that no matter how difficult things get, you are strong.
Trust your training. We can be our own worst enemy, but this is a good reminder that you did the work.
This too shall pass. This has been my mom’s advice to me to get me through the tough times.
I am in control of the outcome. The best reminder to use on a hard run or race day.
My race. My pace. Run your own race, don’t worry about other runners.
I breathe in strength, I breathe out weakness – Amy Hastings
You must do the thing you think you cannot do. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going. – Sam Levenson
Run the mile you’re in. – Unknown
All miles are good miles. – Unknown
Go faster. Push harder. Today, Define yourself. – Deena Kastor
Run without any regrets – Shalane Flanagan
Today, not tomorrow. – Richard Warrell
The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start. – John Bingham
Rest, don’t quit. – Unknown
Pick one–the finish line or an excuse. – Unknown
I didn’t come this far to come this far. – David Kot
I don’t stop when I’m tired, I stop when I’m done. – James Bond
Tough runs don’t last, but tough runners do. – Unknown
If it doesn’t challenge you it doesn’t change you. – Fred DeVito
The task ahead of you is never greater than the strength within you. – Unknown
Get Your Own Running Mantra
Inspiring mantras can be a helpful way to focus your thoughts and keep you motivated while running. If you don’t have a running mantra yet, the good news is that it’s not too late to create a simple mantra for your next run!
By creating your own personal mantra, you can ensure that the message is one that resonates with you, makes you feel empowered, and helps you achieve your running goals, especially through those tough times.
Who wouldn’t benefit from some positive thoughts and replacing negative self-talk with positive self-talk!
I hope that these examples of powerful running mantras have given you some ideas for how to create your own personal mantra. Find the right mantra for you and figure out the best time to use it to meet your goals.
Ready to give it a try?
