Some Odds and Ends on Maintaining Confidence & Good Spirits Along The Trail

This is from a RW.com forum post. I have it hanging at my work desk and on my fridge. I don't want to lose it! So I'm putting it here.

Some Odds and Ends on Maintaining Confidence and Good Spirits along the Trail

Believe in yourself--nothing else will get you to the finish line.

Decide before you start what will stop you--if that doesn't happen, you continue.

Are you racing or running?  Time goal (sub-24 hour, big buckle, age group) or running to finish.  Don't let the initial goal be etched in stone. Something may go wrong out there--adjustments will need to be made as the day unfolds.  Evaluate, adjust and keep going.

Run your plan.  Stay within your realm.  Don't feel bad if someone passes you.  Don't chortle with glee if you pass someone.  Keep a sense of what your are about.  Keep pressing on, maybe it will be one of those good days when you pick it up and then keep on picking it up.

Have faith in walking.  Walk when you need to or when you want to (hopefully not often), but walk with purpose...no trudging...no survival shuffle...keep a good mindset and walk with a purpose.  Smile and enjoy what you are passing through.

Be sure your crew (if you have one—a crew is not a necessity) understands that you might go through a transition from nice person to "not so nice" person.  Have a talk with them about the need to kick your butt back out on the course.  Sympathy may exist, but not to the extent of shortchanging the runner.

Problems?  Is it a problem or just an inconvenience?  Decide which.  Find a solution for the problem.  Block out the inconvenience, it will pass.

Food.  Stick with the safest food there is at the aid stations.  Use as much of your own stuff as you can, but don't be inflexible about things not being perfect.  Be flexible as you go.

Equipment.  If some equipment change comes into your head--is it a need or a want?  If it is a need, solve it at the next crew or drop bag point.  If it is a want and can't be fixed fairly easily, drop the thought—keep running.

Throwing up, vomiting, coughing the cookies...it may happen even if it has never happened before.  It is not fatal.  It is an inconvenience.  You might need more water between the point it happens and the next aid station (vomiting can be dehydrating).  Drink more--pay attention to electrolytes. Stay at the next aid station long enough to drink and eat more.  Your body is now low on fuel and water.  You must pay attention to eating more.  You can restore the liquids fairly quickly, but you must eat every chance you get.  Oh yeah, try not to throw up on anyone.

Don't stop.  Keep moving.  Low points will come, continued movement will bring you back around.  Don't sit in those chairs at the aid stations unless you really need to.  Think about how far you have come.

Encourage other runners.  Smiles and laughter will help others.  Helping others will help yourself.

Smile and joke with the aid station folks.  Say thank you to the volunteers. They will help you all through the day and night and...be good to them. They are a great source of energy—those people who donate all that time to get us through our little escapades on the trails.

Do not externalize negatives.  No comments like, "Hot out here, ain't it?" or "This is a long hill, eh?"  Just believe in the person that signed the entry blank.  Remember all that training, all those folks you ran with throughout the winter, spring, and summer that got you so strong.

Run gently out there.