Strategies for Mentally Attacking a Half Marathon

Running a half marathon tests your mental strength as much as it does your physical fitness. Each part of the half marathon has different mental battles. Here are some tips on how to win the challenges throughout the half marathon and run a successful race.

First 5 Miles: 
Start out slow. When you start your half marathon, you'll feel strong and confident, but you have to tell yourself to hold back. Running your first half slower than the second half (called a negative split) is the key to running a smart and enjoyable half marathon. Take it slow. Your body will thank you during the later miles.
Run your own half marathon. Don't be worried if you see a lot of people passing you. Remember the tortoise and the hare? They may be starting out way too fast, so you'll catch them later—at your own pace. Going out too fast is one of the most common racing mistakes.
Here are some ways that you can avoid going out too fast: 

• Deliberately run your first mile slower than you plan to run the final one. It's tough to do, since 
• you'll most likely feel really strong in the beginning. But keep in mind that for every second you 
• go out too fast in the first half of your race, you could lose as much as double that amount of 
• time in the second half of your race. 
• Try to make sure you're in the correct starting position. Don't start yourself with faster runners 
• because you'll most likely try to keep up with them. 
• Start your race at a comfortable pace and make sure you check your watch at the first mile 
• marker. If you're ahead of your anticipated pace, slow down. It's not too late to make pace 
• corrections after just one mile. 
• Keep telling yourself that lots of other runners are going to pass you in the first mile. But you'll 
• be passing a lot of those same runners later in the race. 
• Practice starting out slow during training runs. When you do your long run each week, try to 
• hold back during the first few miles, so you get used to the discipline of not going out too fast. 

Don't get too emotional. Try to stay as calm as possible for the first 5 miles. You want to conserve your mental energy for the rest of the half marathon.

Miles 6-10:
Break up the half marathon. Start breaking up the race into smaller segments. It will make the distance feel more manageable. At mile 10, for example, think, "It's just a 5K to go." Stay mentally tough. Your mental toughness will really start to be tested during these miles.
Don't give into periods of self-doubt and discomfort. Remember all those miles you ran and the training you did, and have faith in it. Think about how hard you have worked and how rewarding it will be to complete your half marathon.
Beat boredom. Do whatever it takes to keep your mind occupied: Sing songs, play mental games, count people, talk to other runners.

• Give yourself mini-goals: If you're really struggling, don't focus on how much farther you have 
• to go. Just worry about getting to the next mile marker, the next water stop, or another 
• landmark. Keep giving yourself small goals, so you don't feel overwhelmed by thinking about 
• how far it is to the finish line.
• Go fishing: Focus on someone in front of you who you think you can catch. Imagine you're 
• casting out a fishing line and hooking that person. Then imagine yourself reeling that person in, 
• as you keep getting closer and closer to him.
• Find a mantra: Picking a short phase, such as "One step at a time," that you play over and over 
• in your head while running can help you stay focused and centered. It can be your inner 
• motivation when you need it most. 
• Talk to yourself: Who cares if the person running next to you thinks you're crazy? Sometimes 
• giving yourself a little pep talk and saying things such, "I can do this!" or "I'm staying strong" can 
• help you through a rough patch.
• Distract yourself: Try to take attention away from how you're feeling by focusing on 
• everything outside your body. I always like to look at the spectators' faces and see them smiling 
• and cheering. It helps me take my mind away from any discomfort I'm experiencing.

Miles 11-13.1: 
Think outside the body. You may feel a little discomfort during these miles. You'll certainly feel tired. Let your mind take over from your body and try to focus on the outside—the spectators, the signs, the other runners, the scenery.
Talk to yourself. At this point in the race, you need to dig down deep for extra strength. Use your running mantras. Remind yourself what you've sacrificed to get to this point. Remember how you've worked through fatigue during your training runs and how you can do it again. Set small milestones. Continue to break up the course, mile by mile. Start counting down the miles and the minutes.