Coach Sandi Nypaver shares one of her many tips to help you train a high-performance mindset that will allow you to achieve your goals. Thanks to neuroplasticity, anyone can develop a high-performance mindset with the right focus!
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One of the biggest mistakes runners make when chasing big, uncomfortable goals is focusing only on how hard the process feels.
Yes, training can be challenging. Yes, growth requires discomfort.
But here’s the key: something often feels hard simply because we keep telling ourselves it is.
Words matter. The story you repeat in your head matters even more.
I recently had this exact conversation with someone about healthy eating. If you constantly tell yourself that eating well is hard, it will be. Every choice feels like a battle. But if you reframe it as simple, not easy, but straightforward, your experience changes entirely.
And the same applies to running!
If every workout is labeled as “brutal,” “miserable,” or “a grind,” your nervous system braces for pain before you even start. But when you shift your focus toward what you gain, things like confidence, strength, pride, momentum, you unlock a completely different training experience.
Here’s something worth remembering:
A belief is just a thought you keep thinking.
So the next time you’re staring down a tough workout or an ambitious goal, try this:
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Acknowledge the challenge
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Then intentionally focus on the pleasure, purpose, or progress it brings
You don’t need to pretend training is easy.
You just don’t need to keep convincing yourself it’s harder than it has to be.
Run with intention, and train with belief!