Putting Your Mental Design to the Test

So if you're a runner and live in the Bay Area, you most likely know the Nike Women's Marathon happened this past Sunday. What an event! While, I didn't participate this year (I'm almost over it now...;), I wanted to share the Mental Map a client created for the race.

I talked about this race strategy in an earlier post. Now here's a real life example from a runner putting it to the test. Louann copied the map from the Nike website, saved it in Publisher, then wrote different mantra's she wanted to think at different points of the race (you're a RUNNER at mile 4!, Legs of Steel on the hills, etc). She kept a copy at work and another at home on the fridge. Talk about extra credit! She looked at it daily and visualized herself saying the mantras during the race, and when she showed me her map I had to take a shot to share. So here it is.

And yes, she did run and finish this race (and this was her first race ever!) She stayed strong through the hills and fatigue, and her mental map helped her cross that glorious finish line (and get that special Tiffany necklace!).

And now, she can't wait to sign up for another race...;)