Fighting talk

How motivational mantras can keep you going when your body wants to give up.

- By Cory Wharton-Malcolm

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES on my running journey when I've had to depend solely on mental strength to get across the line. I've had to silence negative thoughts and use positive self-talk to keep my body moving.

One of my worst experiences was in the Florence Marathon. I got to kilometre 37 and cramped - hamstrings, calves, quads, even my core wanted to join the party. Lying down at the side of the course, I cried like a child and wondered what had gone wrong. But I knew: I hadn't trained enough, hadn't got enough sleep leading up to race day, ↑ I went out too hard, it was too hot, and I managed to get my fuelling all wrong.

Negative chatter crept in. The voice in my head said, Just lie here. They'll find you, wrap you in a blanket and get you home. People said you were too big and unhealthy for running, and clearly they were right all along.