How can you be your best, both with training and racing, as the temperature is increasing? TRR coach Scott Fauble shares his tips for training in the heat – Enjoy! 

The temperature may be going up but you still have to get your training in if you want to have a shot at running a PR this fall! As someone who has coached amateur runners for the last 10 years, and trained through many a summer as I prepped for fall marathons, I know how tough it can be to wake up early, hydrate fully, and then look at my watch only to see splits that are nowhere near my expectations, and miles off of what I have done in autumn and spring seasons in the past. The point of this piece is not to teach you how to beat the heat. The point of this piece is to outline the necessary changes you can make in your workouts in order to get the most out of them so that when fall comes around, and race season approaches, you accomplish your goals. 

6 Tips for training in the heat

1. Slow down
2. SLOW DOWN
3. SLOW THE $%*^ DOWN
4. Hydrate and fuel appropriately
5. SLOW DOWN
6. Let the heat work for you.

Haha! Ok, point made – slowing down is a big part of the equation. Let’s dive deeper. 

Expectation Management

The biggest key to training through the summer is lowering your expectations and accepting that you are not tougher than the sun. You just cannot run the same splits at the same effort when it’s 80 degrees as you can when it’s 40 degrees. But guess what, you don’t have to run the same splits to get the same results and adaptations. Your body doesn’t know pace, it only knows effort. Heart rate, lactate levels, sweat rate… none of the things that we can manipulate in workouts to trigger adaptations are tied to pace. They are all tied to effort. That means that if you can take your ego out of the workout that is 70 degrees and 70% humidity, and slow down, you can still trigger your body to adapt in the ways that the workout is calling for. 

“Ok, Scott, how much should I slow down?” You may ask. Good question, if you add up the dew point and temperature that total can inform what % you need to slow down to accommodate the heat. 

Temperature + Dew Point => % Pace Adjustment

• 100 or less:   no pace adjustment
• 101 to 110:   0% to 0.5% pace adjustment
• 111 to 120:   0.5% to 1.0% pace adjustment
• 121 to 130:   1.0% to 2.0% pace adjustment
• 131 to 140:   2.0% to 3.0% pace adjustment
• 141 to 150:   3.0% to 4.5% pace adjustment
• 151 to 160:   4.5% to 6.0% pace adjustment
• 161 to 170:   6.0% to 8.0% pace adjustment
• 171 to 180:   8.0% to 10.0% pace adjustment
• Above 180:   hard running not recommended

Here’s a chart to help calculate what those percentages equate to:

Source: https://www.wickedbonkproof.com/running-training-tips/-adjusting-pace-for-heat

Think Progression

This is a great starting point, but if you really want to dial in your workouts on those hot summer days there are a few other things you can do to make sure that you are getting the most out of your summer training. First up, we return to our initial list and we SLOW DOWN! Heat exposure is kind of like a bowl, the more heat you experience the more it fills up until it’s overflowing. If you push yourself to the point where your metaphorical heat cup runneth over, your body shuts you down. In order to prevent this, it’s helpful to do these summer workouts as progressions because we can always speed up, but when you start too fast it’s really tough to pull the pace back and save the workout. So, start your workouts slower than even the above heat chart suggests. 

Fueling and Cooling

The second thing you can do is fuel properly and cool ourselves off during sessions. On hot days I liked to do my intervals back and forth on one stretch of road so I could stash a bottle of ice water or a cooler and a sports drink at the start/finish of intervals, that way I could pour water on my head and make sure that I was getting extra carbs in workouts. Some particularly helpful places to focus on cooling are the back of your neck or the inside of your wrists. You can also run while holding ice. 

In addition to using the ice/cold water to cool your body/core, when it’s hot outside you burn more calories because sweating takes energy. Due to that increased energy expenditure, your intake needs to increase as well so crank up the fueling. Additionally, while I usually think that electrolytes are over hyped because the American diet has more than enough salt to cover almost everyone’s needs, if you have a history of cramping you should consider using a carb drink with electrolytes or you can take a salt pill before you start. 

Prioritize Effort

The final tip for training in the heat is key to your success: If you can slow down and prioritize effort over pace in the heat, summer training can actually be some of the most effective training that you do. We’ve all seen the army of influencers touting the benefits of sauna use for health, and while I can’t speak to the efficacy of those red-light masks that make you look like MF Doom, I can tell you that heat training (if done right) has some pretty sick side effects. Heat exposure has been shown to jack up natural erythropoietin production which causes your body to create more red blood cells which allows you to transport oxygen more efficiently. 

So, this summer when you’re slogging through hot, muggy, sweaty miles and getting ready for that fall marathon, don’t despair. Take your ego out of it, slow down, turn your workouts into progressions, dump ice water on your head, take a couple extra sips of that sports drink, and let the adaptations come!

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

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You’ve crossed the finish line! Your race medal is around your neck, legs are wrecked, and emotions are everywhere. Relief, pride, disappointment, and sometimes even confusion — perhaps all of these emotions, all at once.

What you do in that moment defines what happens next. Some runners shut it all down. Others overanalyze every second of the race. The best approach? To reflect. Not with judgment, but with curiosity.

The final part of this article series, based on the IGNITE Method that I use when working with athletes, is about evaluating your performance so you can grow from every race, no matter what the clock says.

Why Reflection Matters

After a race, most runners fall into one of two traps:

1. They over-critique, replaying every mistake until the joy is gone.
2. They avoid, refusing to think about the race at all.

Both miss the point. The goal of reflection isn’t to punish yourself or ignore what happened. It’s to extract lessons that make you stronger for the next race.

Runners who consistently improve aren’t the ones who always crush it. They’re the ones who look honestly at what went right, what went wrong, and what’s worth doing differently.

How to Reflect After Your Race

Here’s a simple post-race process I use with my athletes:

Step 1: Cool down your emotions.

Don’t rush into analyzing your race performance right away. Let a few hours or even a day pass before you dig in. Emotions cloud objectivity.

Step 2: Ask yourself three questions.

• What went well?
• What could I have done better?
• What’s one thing I’ll change for next time?

Write the answers down. Keep it short, honest, and specific.

Step 3: Turn reflection into action.

Take those insights and translate them into something practical. If pacing was an issue, consider adding more progression runs to your next training cycle. If nerves got the best of you, spend a few minutes each week on race visualization.

Reflection isn’t just thinking; it’s planning forward.

Why Reflection Leads to Progress

The best athletes I’ve coached treat every race like a collection of data. Whether it’s a personal best or a disaster, it all counts. They use reflection as fuel.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress. When you review with intention, every finish line becomes a starting line for the next phase of growth.

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Wrapping up the Marathon Mindset article series: If you’ve been following along, you’ve walked through the full IGNITE Method with me. This is the method I incorporate into coaching my athletes to help them strengthen their mindset and mental focus before, during, and after race day.

Whenever your mindset falters, refer back to these steps to regain focus.

1. Identify your mental barriers.
2. Generate your best traits by defining your competitive identity.
3. Nurture your pre-performance routine.
4. Instill focus under pressure.
5. Train your mental skills daily.
6. Evaluate and grow after every performance.

Each step is simple but powerful when practiced consistently. Together, they form the backbone of running free — not just physically, but mentally. Because running fast starts with running free.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

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When marathoners talk training, they talk miles: long runs, tempos, intervals. Every week gets measured in numbers. But the truth is, your mental game needs the same consistency.

You wouldn’t expect to show up on race day fit if you only ran once a week. The same goes for your mindset. If you only think about it the night before the marathon, you’ll be caught off guard when the pressure hits.

The fifth step of the IGNITE Method, which I developed and use with my athletes, is simple: Treat mental training like mileage. Do it daily, keep it light, and let the reps add up.

Why Daily Mental Training Matters

Most runners wait until they’re under stress to use mental skills. That’s like waiting until race day to break in your shoes. It doesn’t work.

By training mental skills every day, you do two important things:

1. Make these skills automatic, so you don’t have to think about them in the heat of the race.

2. Build resilience. Your brain gets used to the pressure and recovers faster when things go wrong.

Over time, just like your aerobic base, your mental base grows.

Small Habits, Big Payoff

I worked with a marathoner named Jordan who had a strong physical engine but struggled whenever conditions weren’t perfect. Heat, wind, or a bad mile would send him into panic mode.

We built a simple plan that included five minutes of mental training every day. Jordan practiced short breathing drills before workouts, used a mantra during tough intervals, and wrote down one win from each session in a journal.

At first, he felt silly, and it seemed almost too small to matter. But when race day came, those “micro reps” paid off. At mile 20, when the wheels started to wobble, Jordan didn’t panic. He took one breath, said his mantra, and found his rhythm again. He finished with a negative split and a new PR.

His takeaway: “I realized my body was fine. It was my brain that used to blow up. Training it daily made all the difference.”

How to Train Your Mental Skills Daily

You don’t need hours. You need consistency. Here are a few options you can rotate into your week:

Visualization (2-3 minutes): Before a workout, picture yourself handling the tough part, whether that’s the last rep of an interval or mile 22 of the marathon. See yourself calm, steady, and in control.

Breathing Drills (1-2 minutes): Try a breathing drill called box breathing. Inhale for a count of four, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four. Repeat. Do this before a key workout or anytime stress spikes.

Mantra Practice (during runs): Choose one phrase that anchors you. Examples: “Relax and drive.” “One step at a time.” “Calm and strong.” Use it in training so it’s second nature in racing.

Reflection (3-5 minutes post-run): Jot down one thing you did well and one thing to improve. This keeps your focus process-based, not outcome-based.

Start Small, Stay Consistent

The mistake most runners make is thinking they need a 30-minute meditation practice or a complicated mental program. You don’t.

All you need is 5-10 minutes a day. Stack it with something you already do, such as your warmup, cool down, or post-run stretching. Over weeks and months, these small reps build the same way mileage does.

Why This Matters for Your Marathon Mindset

The marathon is a test of patience, resilience, and presence. The runners who thrive aren’t the ones who never feel stress. They’re the ones who have trained to handle it.

By logging your “mental miles” now, you’re preparing your brain the same way you prepare your legs. And come race day, you’ll be ready for whatever the course throws at you.

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Next up in the Marathon Mindset series: Win or Learn: What Comes After the Race. The final part of the series will look at race reflection and how to evaluate your performance without judgment. Learn how to use every marathon, good or bad, as fuel for the next.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

At some point in every marathon, something will go wrong. Maybe it’s a missed water station. Maybe the wind picks up. Maybe your legs feel heavier than they should.

The runners who still run well on those days aren’t luckier. They’re better at staying present when things go sideways. They know how to get back on track in the middle of the race instead of letting a bad moment become a bad day.

This part of the marathon mindset series is about exactly that: How to hold your focus when the race doesn’t go to plan. Below, I’ll share advice from my IGNITE Method, which guides how I coach my athletes.

Why Staying Present Wins

When something goes wrong, your brain wants to do one of three things:

• Spiral by replaying the mistake over and over.
• Future-proof by worrying about what’s still to come.
• Catastrophize by deciding the whole race is ruined.

None of these helps you run better. The only place you can actually influence your race is right where you are in this mile, this step, this moment. The skill is getting back there quickly.

From Unraveling to Resetting

A strong half-Ironman athlete I worked with, named Casey, would dominate workouts. But in races, one mistake would take her out mentally. A missed turn on the bike? She’d stew over it for miles. A botched transition? She’d give up on the run before it started.

I worked with her on building a reset routine. When something would go wrong during a race, instead of spiraling, she would focus on this routine:

• Her physical cue was to tap the handlebars or clench and release her fists.
• She would breathe a slow inhale for four counts and a slow exhale for four counts.
• She would come back to her mantra, which was, “Next stroke, next pedal, next step.”

The next time something went wrong, she used it immediately. Instead of spiraling, she centered and salvaged her race. Over time, that skill became one of her biggest advantages.

Build Your Own Reset Routine

Here’s a simple three-step framework you can test in your next workout:

1. Pause: Acknowledge what happened without judgment. (e.g., “Missed that aid station.”)
2. Breathe: Take one slow, deliberate breath, inhale for four counts, hold for four counts, exhale for four counts, hold for four counts.
3. Refocus: Use a cue word or mantra to lock back into the task at hand. (e.g., “Smooth stride.” “Stay tall.” “Run my race.”)

Practice It Before Race Day

Like any skill, you need to do this in your training before you need it on race day. Try these three steps during:

• Tempo runs when you feel off your goal pace
• Long runs when you start to fatigue
• Speed sessions if you blow an interval

The goal isn’t to eliminate frustration. It’s to shorten the time you spend in it.

Why This Matters for Your Marathon Mindset

In 26.2 miles, the odds of everything going perfectly are close to zero. But if you can respond instead of react, you protect your energy, your focus, and your pace. One rough mile won’t tank your race if you can mentally reset and move on.

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Next up in the Marathon Mindset series: It’s one thing to know how to reset when the race goes sideways, but it’s another to make that response automatic. Just like you log miles to build fitness, you need to log “mental reps” to make these tools second nature.

In Part 5, we’ll look at how to train your mindset daily, so that when the marathon throws you a curveball, your brain already knows exactly what to do.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

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You can be fitter than you’ve ever been, but if race morning starts in chaos, you’re already on the back foot. The runners who show up calm, focused, and ready? They’ve rehearsed their routine until it’s second nature.

I’ve seen it with pros, BQ chasers, and first-timers. The runners who own their morning tend to own their race.

This part of the marathon mindset series, based on my IGNITE Method for coaching, is all about building your pre-performance routine so you arrive at the start line already in your best headspace.

Why Race Routines Work

On race day, there are a thousand things you can’t control, such as the weather, the crowds at the start line, and the competition. But your pre-race routine? That’s yours.

A clear, repeatable routine helps you do three big things:

• Activate your competitive identity. (Read more on that in part 2.)
• Reduce anxiety by taking the guesswork out of the morning.
• Direct your focus to what matters most.

Without a pre-race routine, you’re rolling the dice on how you’ll feel when the gun goes off.

Chaos Versus Calm

One of the athletes I’ve worked with, named Emma, was a talented collegiate runner who crushed workouts, but she would unravel on race day. She’d forget gear, rush her warmup, and line up at the start line already frazzled.

We built a simple, consistent routine, which included the following:

• The night before the race: She would lay out her uniform, pin her bib, pack her race bag, and write down her race plan.
• On race morning: She would eat a pre-planned breakfast, do the same warmup as in training, sit for 10 minutes of visualization, and repeat her mantra of “calm, steady, strong.”
• Race time cue to focus: She would adjust her watch before stepping to the line.

Emma’s next race wasn’t perfect, but she ran a personal best and felt in control from start to finish. That routine became her anchor every time she competed.

Build Your Race Routine

Think about your race morning as two parts: the night before and the morning of. The goal is to show up with as few decisions left to make as possible.

What to Do the Night Before:

• Get your gear and nutrition ready (clothes, shoes, watch, gels).
• Prepare your bib with safety pins.
• Pack your race-day bag (extra socks, nutrition, water).
• Write down your race plan (key splits, mantras, reminders).
• Set your alarm.

What to Do the Morning of Your Race:

• Have a familiar breakfast and hydration.
• Do your warmup sequence (dynamic stretches, drills).
• Spend some time visualizing. See yourself running strong at key points in the race.
• Do an emotional check-in. Name what you’re feeling, then use a breath or mantra to settle.

Don’t Have a Race Routine? Try This…

If you don’t have a routine yet, experiment with building one during your training. Pick a tune-up race or a long run and treat it like race day:

• Follow the exact breakfast and warmup you’ll do on the morning of your goal race.
• Use your race-day mantra or cue in the workout.
• Notice what feels smooth and what needs tweaking.

The idea isn’t perfection, it’s familiarity. By the time your marathon comes, your routine should feel as automatic as tying your shoes.

Why This Matters for Your Marathon Mindset

A solid pre-performance routine doesn’t just prepare your body, it primes your mind to run as the best version of yourself. When your morning is scripted, there’s no mental energy wasted on small decisions or unexpected hiccups. You start the race already in control.

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Next up in the Marathon Mindset series: How to Stay Focused and Reset When the Race Doesn’t Go As Planned
There are factors on race day you’ll be unable to control, but controlling what you can — your mindset — means the difference between unraveling and keeping your cool. We’ll go over the steps to reset mid-race and stay focused on your goal.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

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Marathon success is just as much about your mental preparation as it is about your physical training. Throughout my career as a mental performance coach, I’ve developed what I call the IGNITE Method to help my athletes harness a healthy, competitive mindset.

In the first part of this article series, we discussed the importance of identifying your mental barriers and understanding how they show up in your training and racing. In this second piece, we’re looking at something that most runners skip: who you choose to be when you compete.

What Is a Competitive Identity?

A competitive identity is who you step into when it’s time to race. It’s the version of you that shows up when pressure hits and everything is on the line.

I find that most runners don’t think about this. They show up hoping it’ll be “a good day.” But when the nerves spike, or the plan falls apart, they don’t have an anchor. And that’s when races start to slip away — not because they aren’t fit, but because they’re mentally scattered.

When you define your competitive identity, you create a blueprint:

These are the traits I want to bring.
This is how I respond to stress.
This is who I am when I race.

It’s not fake confidence. It’s a decision.

Using Competitive Identity as an Anchor

An athlete I’ve worked with named Alex came to me chasing a Boston-qualifying time. Some days, they crushed workouts. Other days, the same paces felt impossible.

I remember Alex telling me, “I never know who’s going to show up.”

I helped them create a competitive identity based on these three traits: Calm. Focused. Adaptable.

That became Alex’s anchor. Their cue was a small one: tugging their shirt before every run. That act reminded Alex, “I’m not hoping for confidence. I’m choosing it.”

When race day came, things didn’t go perfectly. But Alex didn’t panic. They stayed calm and focused, and ran their best race yet. Alex’s Boston-qualifying time was achieved by showing up as their best self when it counted.

Define Your Competitive Identity

Start with this question: Who do I want to be when I race?

Forget the outcome for a second. Think about how you want to carry yourself when the race gets hard. Do you want to be calm? Aggressive? Steady? Relentless?

Pick several traits that feel honest and powerful for you. Then give them a name. Something you can recall when the pain kicks in. This becomes your competitive identity.

A Marathon Mindset Shift You Can Train

This isn’t magic. It’s not “fake it till you make it” either. It’s practice.

Once you’ve got your identity in mind, start practicing it before workouts, on long runs, anytime the mental side gets shaky. Use a mantra, a breath, or a physical action, such as adjusting your watch, to signal that shift.

When things go wrong mid-race — and they will — this identity gives you something to return to. It’s not about controlling every variable. It’s about deciding, “No matter what’s happening around me, this is who I am in this moment.”

To recap, here are the four steps to follow:

1. Pick three words that describe the version of you that races best. Examples: Focused. Brave. Composed.
2. Name that competitive identity with a label that sticks. “Steady Storm.” “Marathon Maverick.” “Fearless Finisher.”
3. Create a cue, such as a phrase, gesture, or breath, that you can use to activate your competitive identity.
4. Practice that activation in your next big session, not just on race day.

It might feel a bit odd at first. That’s normal. But with reps, it starts to feel automatic. Your mind gets the signal: “I know this space. I belong here.”

I dig into the full framework in my book Fast & Free, but this is the starting point. Don’t leave your race day identity to chance. Decide who you want to be, and practice becoming that person now.

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Next up in the Marathon Mindset article series: Racing Starts the Night Before
We’ll talk about your pre-race routine and why the mindset you bring to race morning is built long before your alarm goes off. A good routine doesn’t just warm up your body; it locks in your focus.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Article written by Coach Brant Stachel

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You can follow your plan perfectly, hit every long run, nail your fueling, and even have your shoes broken in just right. But if your mind isn’t in the right spot on race day, all that training can unravel fast.

That’s because your performance is not just about fitness.

It’s about what shows up between your ears.

Based on more than 15 years of coaching endurance athletes, from first-time marathoners to Olympians, and my work as a registered psychotherapist, I’ve seen firsthand how the mental side of racing can make or break a performance. The runners who train their minds the same way they train their bodies are the ones who consistently show up when it counts.

So, let’s start this marathon mindset series by discussing why it’s important to get real with yourself before the race starting line gun even goes off. Because before you can run your best race, you’ve got to figure out what’s getting in your way.

5 Common Marathon Mindset Barriers

Most runners don’t lose races because they blow up physically. They lose them in their minds before the first step. The most common culprits? Doubt, nerves, perfectionism, fear of failure — or that voice in your head saying, “What if I blow this?”

None of this makes you weak. It makes you normal.

But if you don’t understand the thoughts you’re having, it’s hard to change them.

Here are the patterns I see over and over in athletes I work with, whether they’re at the Olympic Trials level or trying to finish their first race:

Performance Anxiety: You’ve trained well, but nerves hit hard. You overthink everything. You feel wired before you even warm up.

Self-Doubt: You’re wondering if you belong. Maybe one bad workout shook your confidence, or you’re caught comparing yourself to others.

Fear of Failure: You’ve told people your goal. You’ve put in the work. Now it feels as if you’ll let everyone down if you fall short.

Negative Self-Talk: You hit a rough patch and immediately spiral. “I knew I’d blow it,” or “I always fall apart.”

Perfectionism: You want every split dialed. One missed water station or slow mile, and you’re thrown off.

Ask Yourself These 4 Mindset Questions

It’s important to take the time to identify your mindset barrier. Sit in a quiet space and reflect on your past training and racing experiences. Consider the following questions:

1. What’s the thought that shows up when things get hard in training?
2. What’s the fear that creeps in the week before the race?
3. What do you replay from past races that still messes with your head?
4. If your biggest mental block had a name, what would it be?

You don’t need to solve your mental block yet, just name it. That’s your first job.

Notice Where Your Mindset Barrier Shows Up

Once you’ve named your barrier, the next step isn’t to fix it overnight. It’s to start noticing when and where it shows up.

For example, if your barrier is self-doubt, start tracking when it hits hardest. Is it during long runs, race week, taper time? If it’s perfectionism, watch how you respond when a session doesn’t go exactly as planned. This awareness is the first layer of change. Because once you can see the pattern, you can start to interrupt it.

Your key move is to shift from judgment to curiosity. Instead of thinking, “Why do I always choke?” try asking, “What am I actually afraid of here?” That small change in language opens the door to a totally different mindset. You stop reacting, and you start learning.

This is all part of my IGNITE Method for how I coach my athletes, and I go way deeper into how to build that shift in my upcoming book, Fast & Free. But for now, don’t worry about solving everything. Just get honest, stay curious, and keep showing up. That’s how you can start to shift your mindset.

Why Understanding Your Mindset Barrier Matters

You can’t outrun what you haven’t dealt with. If you’ve got a loud inner critic, a fear of failure, or nerves that spike the week before your race, that stuff’s going to show up on race day.

But when you know what you’re up against, you’ve got a shot at doing something about it. This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about knowing what’s likely to show up and having a plan to handle it when it does.

Mental performance coaching isn’t just for the professionals trying to squeeze out that last 2-3 seconds per mile. It’s for everyone, and the benefits extend far beyond your road, trail, or track endeavors.

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Next up in the Marathon Mindset article series: Your Competitive Identity.
We’ll build your competitive identity, which is the mindset you choose to race with. Why? Because if you don’t decide who’s showing up on race day, the nerves and pressure will decide for you.

Brant Stachel is a mental performance coach, registered psychotherapist, and former professional triathlete. He has coached more than 25 athletes to international teams, including six with Olympic Trials-qualifying times. He works with endurance athletes, from high schoolers to Olympians, helping them train the mental side of performance through his IGNITE Method. Brant is the author of Fast & Free. He coaches runners through TeamRunRun.com and is a mental performance coach through CEPmindset.com.

Tapering your training leading up to a race is what many runners look forward to. But when it arrives, it can feel unnerving. We’ve gotten into the rhythm of the long run routine, speed workouts, and strength training. Suddenly doing less may seem strange. And for some of us, it comes with increased race anxiety.

But tapering is necessary to perform our best on race day. And while reducing mileage is part of it, other critical factors include sleep, nutrition, and mindset. When we prioritize all aspects of a taper, we’re more likely to reach race day feeling strong, calm, and ready.

Below, seven Team RunRun running coaches share the aspects of a training taper that runners commonly overlook, and taper tips to incorporate before your next race.

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Taper weeks are for both body and mind.

A commonly overlooked aspect of race tapering is the mindset shift that occurs when an athlete transitions from a structured training routine to a period of reduced activity. Preparing for a race requires a significant time commitment, and when training becomes part of an athlete’s daily routine, it’s not unusual for them to struggle mentally with the idea that tapering is not only necessary but beneficial for both body and mind. The taper period allows for healing of minor injuries, replenishment of glycogen stores, and recovery of the skeletal and muscular systems in preparation for race day.

As a coach, I create space for my athletes to openly share any fears or frustrations they may have during the taper. It’s important to help them focus on the positives tapering provides, both physically and mentally. When assigning workouts during this time, I aim to keep athletes moving, but at a lower intensity and reduced volume to avoid fatigue while still maintaining routine. I often remind them that tapering is also an opportunity to reconnect with parts of life that may have been put on hold during intense training, whether that’s spending more time with family, prioritizing rest, or simply enjoying the mental break before race day.

Tanner Amrhien, ISSA Certified Running Coach, UESCA Endurance Sports Nutrition Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile
@tanneramrhien | Find Tanner on Strava

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Nutrition is just as important during taper as it is in peak mileage.

You’re at the point in the training where you’re hungry from the peak weeks but running less. It’s important to get the proper nutrition for recovery and fueling in the final few weeks, and also set yourself up for a successful carb load. Having a plan going into not only the peak weeks but also taper is key to making sure your body is ready to perform on race day.

Work with your coach to develop a good plan. With the extra time you have available during taper, it’s a great chance to focus on nutrition and reduce some of the taper anxiety.

Cody Cranor, RRCA Certified Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile | Wild Buffalo Running
@Codyruns_wbr

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Don’t underestimate the importance of sleep.

When it comes to tapering, one of the biggest issues I have seen in the athletes I have coached is proper rest. Increased anxiety before race day can cause restlessness and affect sleep quality.

Proper rest during tapering is highly important. Having a consistent, balanced sleep schedule two weeks before your race can help in glycogen storage, your hormonal balances, and really help reduce anxiety.

I can’t express how important sleep is. I have really suffered during a few races due to a lack of sleep. Sleep really can change your running performance before a race.

Noah Stockton, M.S. in Kinesiology/Sports Management
4-6 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile | Stockton Running

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Adjust race-intensity workouts based on your experience level.

A commonly overlooked part of tapering is how to handle race-intensity workouts. For my first-time marathoners, I often pull back both volume and intensity earlier, about four weeks out, so their bodies have more time to absorb the training. For my more experienced or podium-focused athletes, I keep race-specific efforts in the mix until four or five days before the race, while reducing only overall volume. This keeps their legs sharp and confidence high.

The practice is simple: Adjust the intensity of taper workouts to the athlete’s experience level so they feel prepared, not depleted, on the starting line.

Gustavo Román Jr, B.S. in Sports Conditioning, minors in Coaching and Psychology; RRCA Certified Coach
4-6 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile | Tavo Coaching
@gustavoromanjr | @tavocoaching

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Your body still needs fuel as it works to recover.

As your volume decreases, you may not feel as hungry, and it can become easy to naturally eat less. While it’s important to listen to hunger cues, it’s also so important to acknowledge the role protein, carbs, and fat all play in recovering after you’ve had a high chronic workload.

To help make the process easier and a bit less mentally taxing, I work with my athletes to pick three go-to easy snacks they can have during taper that don’t require much preparation or cooking. And I always have registered dietitian info handy to pass along for folks who want more help, since I’m not a professional myself in that field!

Martina Nadeau, RRCA Certified Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile

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Incorporate a mental rehearsal to prepare for race day.

One of the most overlooked keys to a successful taper isn’t physical — it’s mental rehearsal. Runners focus on mileage and rest, but few taper their minds. I have athletes rehearse the exact routines and race scenarios they’ll face, visualizing the start line nerves, the grind of mile 18, and the final push.

Why? Because it’s not just fatigue that breaks athletes. It’s being unprepared for how it feels. When you’ve already practiced your response to those moments, nothing surprises you.

Before race day, I ask athletes to spend five minutes daily on ‘mental tapering.’ Run through your cues, your plan, your why. By race morning, your legs will be rested and your mind razor-sharp.

Brant Stachel, World Athletics Level 5, Athletics Canada High Performance Coach
10+ years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile | Fast and Free Coaching and Mental Performance
@fastandfreecoaching

Read more from Coach Brant on establishing a pre-race routine.

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Use your taper as a time for fine-tuning.

Training does not stop at the taper. Many believe tapering is simply a time to rest. And while rest is essential, that’s not the whole picture. A proper taper still includes a few key workouts in those final weeks to keep the body sharp and the mind engaged.

I am transparent with my athletes about what tapering really means. We go over what to expect and how we approach running in the final days and weeks leading up to a race. It’s not about shutting down, it’s about fine-tuning.

Jonathan Gooch, UESCA Running Coach
1-3 years coaching experience
Team RunRun Coaching Profile

Team RunRun Coach Jenn Kozak speaks to the motivations and strategies that guide us for creating running goals when finish time goals no longer apply.

2026 has begun! For the endurance athlete, this likely means strategically building out a race schedule for the year. A traditional approach might look like selecting races that speak to you, then categorizing them as goal/priority races, training/support races, or races you’re participating in just for fun (typically labeled as A, B, or C races). Your A races, or your goal races, are the events where you’ll hope to perform well and maybe even snag that elusive personal record (PR). If this is motivating for you, that’s great! But as we know, not everyone fits the same mold.

As a running coach, I see plenty of athletes who are not motivated by time-based goals, that is to say chasing a target time or setting a new PR for a given distance. Often, time-based goals can create a sense of anxiety that bleeds into not only racing, but day-to-day training. This can sap the joy out of the process, making training stressful, and is ultimately something we want to avoid. Perhaps the athletes that feel the loss of time-based running goals most acutely are the aging athletes. If you are an athlete in your 60’s, 70’s, or beyond (and are not a complete beginner), it is likely that your fastest days are behind you. The question then arises: what should my goals be? What will motivate me to continue running?

Motivations are varied and individual. Many athletes are drawn towards achievement-based goals which can provide a sense of accomplishment. Other athletes trend towards exploration and adventure. The good news is that there are a seemingly endless number of goals that you can set for yourself that are not based on finish time.

Location/Geography Based Challenges

1. Run a Half Marathon in Every State (or Province – Canada, or Country – Europe):

Love to travel? If you have the time and resources, then this one is for you! With the half marathon being an extremely popular race distance, it isn’t hard to see why this is one of the more popular geography based challenges could become the basis for creating running goals. With the range of climates across the US, it is likely that you’d be able to find a race somewhere, every weekend of the year. Don’t love the half? Alter the challenge to the 10k, or the 5k! Can’t commit to that level of travel? Take part in all the local races near you. There are many ways to create your own challenge in this way.

2. Race in a Dream Location:

If you don’t want to commit to hitting every state in the US, pick a race in a dream location! There is no better way to sight see than running through the streets/trails of somewhere new. The bonus? In a race scenario you’ll have the support and safety of the race organization, versus running through an unknown location on your own. 

3. Stay Local:

Often, it is comforting to stick to the roads you know. One way to mix things up is to try to run every road in your hometown. If you prefer trails, then every safe trail system in your area. Or, get competitive in a different way and nab that Local Legend! 

Race Series

There are so many race series out there that it would be impossible to list them all, but a great strategy for creating running goals could revolve around an epic challenge with various stages and steps to work through. The most renowned is likely the World Marathon Majors. Athletes who run all six of the original Majors (Boston, Chicago, London, New York, Tokyo, and Berlin) will receive the coveted Abbot Six Star finishers medal. If you already have one, they will likely be introducing two more races in addition to the Sydney Marathon, and having a nine-star finishers medal as the next milestone. 

The Dopey Challenge is another extremely popular event, where athletes will run a 5k, a 10k, a half marathon, and a marathon over four consecutive days, all while enjoying the magic of Disney! This experiential race series is more often than not more about the vibes, and the challenge of completing each distance, rather than worrying about the clock. The Goofy Challenge is also popular, in which runners take part in both the half marathon, and the marathon. Team RunRun coach Dafne Valle has a Dopey Challenge Guide to help you navigate this goal.

Both the World Majors and the Dopey Challenge race series are often unattainable for the average recreational athlete. The chance of getting into the majors via lottery is quite slim, and if you do get in, expect high costs for travel and lodging. The Dopey Challenge also sells out very quickly. This doesn’t mean that challenges of these types are off the table though! A grass roots example is the P.A.C.E. (Positive Attitude Changes Everything) Trail Running Series, Quadzilla held in British Columbia, Canada. If you run four of their races, you are entered into a draw for a solo entry to the Golden Ultra (BC) or the LOWA Trail Trophy (Austrian Alps).**

There are numerous race organizations that have race series. A little digging and you’ll likely be able to find one near you that will fit your budget and your travel capacity. Not only will you get to train for something with no time pressure, you’ll be supporting a local organization!

** Quadzilla to return in 2027.

Distance-Based Challenges

1. Completing a “new to you” distance

As coaches, we will often encourage athletes who are aiming for their first long event to have their main goal be successful completion of the race. When creating running goals, the same strategy can apply to any “new” distance that you decide to tackle. This could be a half marathon if you’ve only ever completed a 10k, or a marathon if you’ve completed half marathons in the past. It can also extend to trying your running legs on trails, where time matters less. Perhaps even your first ultra!

2. Fixed-time race

This style of endurance event typically takes place on a looped course. The goal is to go as far as you can within a given amount of time (often 6, 12, or 24 hours). These inclusive events are open to all fitness levels, and athletes often can set goals based on their personal fitness level. With a looped course format, over the course of the race you can build and experience a sense of community, as you’ll be seeing the other athletes multiple times over the course of the event. You can commiserate, encourage, and flex that mental fortitude muscle along with many new friends!

3. Backyard style ultra marathon

We’ve all heard of Big’s Backyard Ultra (if you haven’t you should check it out). Thanks to its popularity, there are now backyard style ultras all over the world. Typically, the backyard style event will be a 4.167 mile loop (called a yard) which must be completed in 1 hour. At the start of each new hour, runners MUST begin the loop again (if you finish in 45 minutes for example, you’ll have 15 minutes to rest, recover, fuel, etc before you’re to begin again). This style of race is another example of not worrying about the finish time. The most challenging part might be getting off the lawn chair to start the next loop! 

4. Personal distance challenges 

Turning 50 and looking for a fun way to celebrate the milestone? Why not run 50k?! Of course, these fun challenges can be tailored in any way you see fit based on your level of fitness. If 50 miles or 50k is too much, break it up into a multisport day including biking to help tick off some of that distance. There are an infinite number of ways you could build a challenge that is difficult yet doable, and of course, rewarding.

Branch Out to Other Events

1. Triathlon

There are so many events that can be supported by continuing to run, or alternatively, support running, so when thinking of creating running goals, think beyond just running. One of the more common forays into the multisort world might be runners moving over to endurance events such as the triathlon (swim, run, bike events). Athletes can learn or develop other aerobic sports while maintaining a focus on run fitness. 

2. Spartan Events

Spartan is most known for its obstacle racing courses. Athletes will choose their event (Sprint, Stadion, Beast, etc.) which includes a running distance and set number of obstacles that must be crossed. For example, a Sprint Spartan includes 5k of running, combined with 20 obstacles such as an atlas carry, box jumps, a barbed wire crawl, and a fire jump, to name only a few. Spartan is also the flagship company for the Tough Mudder races (with its own version of often muddy, challenging obstacles that will really test your mental grit) and Deka races (often indoor strength and running competitions). Spartan also puts on other endurance based races, including more traditional trail races. 

3. HYROX

The currently trending HYROX is an indoor race where athletes run 1 km, followed by a functional workout station, which is then repeated 8 times. With the surge in popularity of HYROX, it is likely that there will be a race available near you!

 While Spartan and HYORX still demand a need for good aerobic fitness as they incorporate running into their challenges, strength becomes more of a focus (not a bad thing for aging athletes)! 

Off the Cuff Adventures

1. Hut-to-hut trips

With the rise in popularity of running, and trail running in particular, there have been many different tourism based companies popping up, inviting guests on their curated running adventures all over the globe. Rogue Expeditions is a company providing multi-day running tours in unique locations such as Patagonia, Morocco, and Italy (to name a few). Runners can find packages that are tailored to their own personal fitness level, making it accessible for most recreational runners. 

Runners with the know how can also build their own adventures. One popular example is completing the famous Ultra-Trail Mont Blanc (UTMB) race course of 100 miles on their own, breaking it down into a 4, or 5 day trip. 

2. Hiking adventures

Did your friend just invite you on a last minute backpacking trip? Have you always wanted to visit Machu Picchu? Is the Camino de Santiago a bucket list adventure? Just because you aren’t running doesn’t mean that these feats are easy! Creating running goals based on big life adventures that benefit from run fitness is a great motivator to put in the miles!

Maintaining your base aerobic fitness will allow you to jump into any adventure at the drop of a hat! 

Finally, just because you aren’t training to PR in your next race, doesn’t mean you should completely give up the sport altogether. Continuing to train consistently will help maintain cardiovascular fitness which can decrease the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes while helping to improve longevity and the overall quality of life.

What is your goal for 2026 going to be?

Jenn Kozak is a running coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about her or to work with her, check out her coach profile.

with Coach Sean McIntyre

Balancing running with parenthood—especially with babies or toddlers—can feel overwhelming. Between nap schedules, work demands, and sleepless nights, it’s easy to assume that consistent training or hitting new running goals just isn’t possible anymore. But if running is important to you or an important stress reliever, I wanted to share some ways I’ve tried to keep that possibility alive.

If you’re searching for tips on how to run with a baby, stay consistent as a busy parent, fit marathon training into parent life, this guide offers a realistic, encouraging, and experience-based approach. As a run coach and father of two toddlers, I’ve learned what actually works—and how running can still thrive during one of the busiest seasons of life.

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1. Start by Shifting Your Expectations

The first and most important adjustment when running with young kids is mental: your running won’t look the same as it did before parenthood. You won’t have as much time. Your priorities will shift. And that’s perfectly okay.

You can still improve and have fun with running, but you might race less or go through long periods without hitting PRs. That doesn’t mean you can’t get faster—many parents do. I’ve been able to improve in certain areas as well—but the path is not as linear or straightforward as it used to be.  I draw a lot of inspiration from professional runners crushing it post-partum, but this post is geared more toward my personal experience as a working parent with a non-running related profession.

When our second child was born in 2024, I only raced once the entire year. Training was lighter both before and after her birth. I ended up running the Chicago Marathon when she was about four months old and finished about 22 minutes off my PR. But it was still incredibly meaningful, and running continued to bring me joy and stress relief, even at lower volume.

Shifting your expectations isn’t lowering your standards. It’s adapting to reality so you can still get meaningful satisfaction out of the sport.

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2. Seize Small Windows—Don’t Hesitate

One of the biggest skills you develop as a running parent is the ability to go the moment you get a window. If you have a 20-minute nap or your partner steps in for a bit, that is your chance. You can’t procrastinate, stretch leisurely, or ease into it. Lace up and get out the door.

This is where expectations matter: you will run fewer total minutes during certain phases of parenthood. Some days you’ll squeeze in just 10–15 minutes. But something is genuinely better than nothing—and it adds up.

Three days of 15–20 minute runs is an hour or more of training you wouldn’t have had otherwise. Over a week or a month, that consistency can be huge. I’ve had 7 minute runs completely reset my mood and clear my mind.

Short runs maintain momentum. They reinforce your identity as a runner. And they keep the habit alive during the busiest seasons of life.

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3. Embrace Quality Over Quantity

When your overall volume drops, one of the best ways to stay sharp is to focus more on quality. Shorter runs can become mini-workouts. If all you have is 20 or 30 minutes, try running some of those miles fast.

After our first child was born, most of my training happened on the treadmill during naps or late at night. I was preparing for a marathon and managed maybe 30–40 miles a week. Not a lot of long runs. Not a lot of big mileage. But I did a ton of really fast two or three mile treadmill runs.

They were fun, time-efficient, and surprisingly effective.

Going into the race with a 5 month-old, I had no expectation of a major PR—but ended up with one of the best performances of my life. That high-quality speed work translated into a pace that felt surprisingly smooth on race day.

Sometimes less mileage + more quality = a faster, fresher (as fresh as sleepless can be) version of yourself.

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4. My Most Unexpected PR (and Why It Happened)

Heading into that marathon, my PR was 2:46. Given new-parent life, I was just hoping to run near that time. But during the race, I ended up running with the leader through the early miles. We were both running ahead of our PR paces, but we felt good.

Around mile nine, he pushed ahead, but I held steady. I caught him at mile 26, won the race, and finished with a five-minute personal best—all on lower mileage, fragmented sleep, nighttime treadmill runs, and complete life chaos.

That day taught me a huge lesson: even when you’re stretched thin, you can still have breakthrough performances. They won’t happen every time. In fact, I haven’t touched that PR since. But it showed me that progress is still completely possible during parenthood—just not always predictable.

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5. The Running Stroller Is Your Secret Weapon

If there’s one highly tactical recommendation I can make, it’s this: invest in a good running stroller.

Our kids are 14 months apart, and we bought a double stroller before our second was even born. To this day, stroller miles are a massive part of my training. Some weeks, they make up nearly 100% of my running.

Stroller running lets you get mileage in without needing childcare, take the kids along for naptime, keep consistency even when solo windows are rare, and maintain fitness.

With the right infant attachments and once your baby has adequate neck support, stroller running can start earlier than many people think (maybe as early as 2-3 months if you ensure their head and neck are not wobbling around). It’s a game changer, and without it, I simply wouldn’t be able to train consistently.

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6. Teamwork With Your Partner Matters (When Possible)

Every family situation is different, but if you have a partner, working together can be one of the most impactful ways to keep running in your life.

For context: I lead a finance team full-time, and my wife is now a first-year medical resident, often working 70–80 hours per week. Before that, she completed medical school while we had our children. Life has not been slow.

Yet both of us have still been able to train and enjoy meaningful race experiences.

Earlier this year, while I trained for the Boston Marathon, my wife trained for the Providence Marathon. She ended up running a massive 35-minute PR at 11 months postpartum.

How did we make it work?

We traded long-run mornings. Saturday morning: I took both kids while she ran.  Sunday morning: she took the kids while I ran. For about two and a half months, we maintained that rhythm and both had great spring marathons. Residency has changed the dynamic again, but that period taught us how powerful coordinated routine can be.  If your partner doesn’t run, utilize the same teamwork for whatever hobby brings them joy!

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Conclusion: Running With Young Kids Is Different, But It’s Absolutely Possible

Your running might not look like it did before kids—but that doesn’t mean it has to disappear, or that your best days are behind you. Some of my proudest running moments have come after becoming a parent, not before.  Some highlights include the JFK 50 mile race and a Guinness World Record in 2025 at the Boston Marathon dressed as a leprechaun.

You’re juggling more now. You’re prioritizing your family. And if running still fits into that life—even imperfectly—that’s something to be incredibly proud of.  Our kids will know that exercise is a priority not a luxury, you get one life and I want them to know that they should never put their health on the backburner because life gets busy.

Sean McIntyre is a coach with Team RunRun. To learn more about him or to work with him, check out his coach profile.