Whenever I hit a rough patch during a race, I try to use one of my running mantras to clear my head and focus on the task at hand. A running mantra can be any short, motivational phrase that you repeat in your head while running. It can be a line from a song, an inspiring quote, or just a couple of words that motivate you, such as "One step at a time". One that I like to use is, "Feeling stronger, getting faster." It's just a few simple words, but it somehow motivates me to dig deeper and keep going.
I also like to use running mantras at the end of a hard run or race, when I know approximately how much longer I'll be running. I'll tell myself, "Just ten more minutes. Just ten more minutes. Just nine more minutes" and so on. Doing a mental countdown in my head calms me down and distracts me from any pain I might be feeling.
Do you have a running mantra? What goes through your mind when you're running? How do you get through a mentally tough run? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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I try to “disappear” into God, so to speak. I am less conscious of myself and my own pain when I lose myself in this way.
By the way, Christine, I really enjoy your posts.
I always tell myself “heart of steel” when it gets harder through the run.
mine is “Smooth and strong all day long.”
when pain starts appearing i just ask myself, “what is “pain”?” and i answer by saying “pain is nothing, it doesn’t exist, i cannot feel it.” and so on…
I just started using this one;
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is not.”
I find myself repeating “winners never quit, quitters never win” when the going gets tough
My bck-up mantra is “if it’s hurting, it’s working”. This really does help me get through some tough times as well
“I’m Healthy. I can! I’ve done it before. I’ll do it again!”
I keep telling myself:
“I am the wind. I am strong, light, fast”
I stress strong if i’m feeling any aches, light if I just want to be faster or not be so aware of my feet pounding the pavement. I feel it makes my step lighter.
i remind myself, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. He is the one who gets me through it all, including running.
I just imagine my legs as piston; failure is not an option
I usually perform math calculations for hours on end and it really helps pass the time because your mind must focus on the process of calculating and nothing else. Simple things such as “if I run 8:45/mile for 13.1 miles that would be, but if I run 8:35/mile then it would be, or what about 9;05/mile”.
Other math tricks might include squaring numbers from 1-40, doing square roots of the same sets at random, or multiplying two digit numbers.
Sounds weird but really works for me.
When I hit those moments where I feel like stopping, I think of a quote from Lance Armstrong. “Pain is temporary, Quitting Lasts Forever”
Anima Sana In Corpore Sano (ASICS)
Running cleanses the mind and body
“There will be a day when you can no longer do this. Today is not that day.”
I used to be motivated by hard rock and heavy metal music on my ipod when I was running long distances… but recently I’ve had a complete revelation – Soulful, uplifting Reggae music really helps when you’re struggling! – When Bob Marley sings ‘don’t worry about a thing – every little thing’s gonna be alright’ – it helps me to relax, lift my head, breathe deeper, lift my knees a little higher, and keep pushing on to the finish. If I keep repeating his lyrics, that becomes my running mantra!
I just have conversations with myself in my head. No, i’m not socially akward and talk to myself, only silently o_O
Hey, it helps past the time.
During the latter part of my first half-marathon, it was things like saying ‘one more mile down go’ ad infinitum or ‘next milemarker’s yours’ etc…
Mantras DO help, dude…
“Pain is just weakness leaving your body!”
I like to use the line, “pain is temporary, glory is forever”.
“Make it hurt” or “What if you could?”
I use positive words – the brain doesn’t interpret negative words such as I’m not tired. I think in positive action verbs like, I feel great, and pep talk myself.
During my cross country races, I usally say, “What doesn’t kill me, makes we stronger,” and “Just keep running. Just keep running. Just keep running, running, running.” Sometimes I say, “They’re tired too.” To remind myself that the other runners are just as tired as I am. I also sing songs in my head, modivational ones. It really helps me get through me races!
Love all the quotes. I guess one of my favorite is “Finish It”
Mine is “One, two, three, four, there’s nothing wrong with being sore, five, six, seven, eight, keep your breathing and your gait.”
I borrow one word from the Marines, which I don’t even feel worthy of saying, but I rationalize it as being my way of showing respect to these heros and on every third step I say one of these words, “One….more….step….hooah!”
Repeating “I am strong.” (tough, mighty, powerful, etc.)
Repeating “Mind over matter.” (any thing to say how the mind conquers the physical body)
Repeating “I feel good” (happy, calm, relaxed, etc.)
Good ones from everyone. They’ve helped me. Thank you!
I’ve read how relaxing and not tensing up is so important so I slowly repeat “Relax” in my mind and concentrating on my breathing and feeling the air go in and out of my lungs. I pay attention to each muscle being efficient and as relaxed as possible. I think about how it’s me, the ground, and the air… and that’s it.
Another one, is “Just do what you can do and run what you run” so that I don’t try to put forth too much effort and outpace myself.
Another one is “keep the pace. keep the pace.”
and/or “you can do it”
I listen to only positive songs on my ipod.
I keep telling myself:
“I don’t care, I’m getting my finisher T..”
I watched a documentary about race across america, a cycling race, one of the hardest in the world. The man who was in the film quoted, that every day you can beome stronger or weaker, but you will never plato, you will never stay the same. The choice is yours.
I also love “Are you gonna ride or hide”
i live in Cheyenne Wyoming – wind, snow, alititude, I don’t hide
I like the quote from Don Juan, “you can be happy or you can be miserable; it takes the same amount of energy.”
I also tell myself that I am “fleet of foot’.
When pain arises, I just acknowledge it and name it (there is cramping, or stabbing, or aching) but never claim it as my own, just as something that is there and everything is impermanent. When it’s really bad I repeat the word “anicha’ over and over. i spelled it wrong but it is the Pali word for impermanence.
“one foot in front of the other” – break it down to basics. It’s not rocket science and it’s not Mount Everest. I can always convince myself I have enough energy to put one foot in front of of the other a few more times.