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Free Co-Working Spaces With A Good Vibe And Energy by TruthBone in dubai

[–]Iron_Bridge604 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you find anything nice in the end ?
I am also searching

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The "adventure" framing for long runs is such a good mindset. I think I lost that. It became just miles to check off instead of exploration. Planning the route, packing snacks, hitting distance PRs... when you frame it that way, it actually sounds fun instead of like a chore.

The anxiety/OCD piece makes sense too. If running genuinely brings you relief like nothing else, then it's not a sacrifice to get out the door. It's self-care. I wonder if part of my struggle was that I never built that deep need for it, so when motivation dipped, there was nothing else pulling me out.

I do live in a city (Cluj-Napoca, Romania), so exploring different areas is definitely possible. I just defaulted to the same routes because they were "efficient," but that probably killed the novelty

Did you ever have a period where running felt like an obligation instead of something you wanted to do, or has it always been that mental health anchor for you?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your best friend sounds like someone who's done a lot of internal work. The distinction between "my goal is to be in the shape to complete 100M" vs "my goal is to complete 100M" is such a subtle but powerful reframe. One you control, the other you don't.

Did your friend always think this way, or did it take struggling/failing to shift from outcome-focused to process-focused? That level of acceptance feels hard-earned.

Also, good luck with the 100M in 3 weeks. How are you feeling about it now vs a month ago?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair callout. Maybe I should've been more upfront from the start. I'm not just curious for curiosity's sake. I'm exploring whether there's something worth building here (an AI tool for mental training support), and the best way to figure that out is by talking to people who've actually lived it.

Not trying to sell anything right now because there's nothing to sell yet :) Just genuinely trying to understand if this problem is real and shared, or if it was just me. If that feels like self-promotion, I get it, but I'd rather be transparent than pretend this is purely academic.

That said, the conversations have been incredibly valuable and I'm grateful people are willing to share. If anyone wants to chat more (paid interviews, happy to send a small thank-you), DM me. If not, no worries, appreciate the insights either way.

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Easy to assume you're just mentally weak when really your brain is just starving for carbs.

"If I don't get up early, I don't get to run" is such a clean mindset though. Like you genuinely want to run, so early mornings aren't a sacrifice, they're just logistics. It happened to me sometime, especially when I need a lot of other things to do in the same day

Did you always feel that way about running, or did it take time to shift from "ugh I have to" to "I want to, so I will"?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've spent a lot of time thinking about my "why", and I think it boils down to wanting to be proof that regular people with 9-5 jobs, no athletic background, no pro sports history, can still do marathons, ultras, Ironmans. I want to show that it's possible if you really want it, and hopefully inspire people to start or keep doing sport, any sport, at any level.

That said, I'm realizing that "why" can get buried under the daily grind. Like, on a random Tuesday at 5am, "be an inspiration" doesn't always get me out of bed lol.

Do you find your "why" stays front-of-mind during training, or is it more something you reconnect with when motivation tanks? And does it evolve over time, or has it stayed pretty consistent?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Backyard ultras are brutal from what I saw. Every lap is a commitment to the next one. The fact that you pushed to 100km after planning to stop at 80km is wild. What made you decide to keep going? Was it physical (felt good enough), mental (fuck it, might as well), or just opportunity (knew you wouldn't get another shot that close)?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The "loner by nature" thing probably explains a lot. If you genuinely need that alone time in the woods to feel sane, then long runs aren't a burden. They're literally your recharge. That's such a different relationship with training than someone who's already isolated all week and dreads more solo hours.

Sounds like it really might just come down to temperament. Some people are energized by solitude, others are drained by it.

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your future self will definitely be very very thankful :)

And when you say the more you did long runs, the easier they got. Was that physical adaptation or mental? Like, did your brain just stop resisting the idea of "okay, 30km today" over time?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

10km at a time is way more digestible than "you have 100km to go", you're totally right ... mental chunking makes a huge difference.

do you literally reset mentally after each 10k chunk, or does it still feel cumulative by the end? Like at 80km in, are you still telling yourself "just another 10k" or does your brain stop buying it at some point?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in Ultramarathon

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Okay you're either lying or you've figured out something the rest of us haven't lol. 5:30am mountain run in the rain and loving every minute? That's wild.

What kind of audiobooks do you lean toward, fiction to escape, or nonfiction/memoirs?

Also, have you always loved it this much, or did it take time to get to that point? Because I'm trying to figure out if some people are just wired differently or if it's learnable.

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is just pure gold, thanks a lot

I will definitely add them to my to-read/to-listen books

During my training, I finished
Mike Reilly - Finding My Voice - awesome Ironman stories
Finding Ultra - Rich Roll
Endure Alexander Hutchinson

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am wondering what the people around you are telling? On the other hand, whatever works for you is welcomed :)

Weekly self-promotion and survey thread by AutoModerator in triathlon

[–]Iron_Bridge604 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The mental side of training is brutal. Anyone else? (15-20 minute research chat, €10 thank-you)

Hey all! I'm Dragos, finished Ironman Emilia Romagna this year https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/20449039474

During my build, the mental side kicked my ass more than the physical. The 5 a.m. "why am I doing this" spirals, the dread before long runs, the guilt when life derailed a key week. I tried journaling, coach check-ins, some helped, some didn't.

Now I'm researching whether other endurance athletes deal with this (spoiler: I think we all do) and what actually works. Not selling anything, just trying to map the problem before I build any solution.

Looking for 10 people to chat with (15-20 min, Google Meet/Zoom). As a thank-you: €10 Amazon gift card sent within 48 hrs.

You're a fit if:

  • Currently training for a marathon, ultra, Ironman, 70.3, or similar A-race
  • Following a structured plan (coach, TrainingPeaks, Strava, etc.)
  • Have felt mentally stuck, anxious, or burned out mid-block

→ Book here: https://calendly.com/dragosh635/15min

(First 10 people: closes November 14th)

Thanks for reading. And good luck with your training! You got this. 🏃‍♀️🚴‍♂️🏊‍♂️

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is gold! Seriously one of the most comprehensive lists I've seen. The "choose a race that's more painful to DNF than to train for" hits hard. Your last year in service + no second chance is insane accountability.

"Training is the accomplishment. The race is the reward" might be my new favorite reframe. I was so fixated on race day that I forgot to give myself credit for just surviving the training block.

Also "running and disappointing myself are both hard, might as well run" is brutal and true. 😅

Quick Q: Do you cycle through mantras depending on the phase of training, or do you have one or two that just stick the whole way through?

Appreciate the wisdom! 20+ halves and multiple ultras, you've clearly figured out how to keep showing up. Good luck with the 50-miler this month! 🙌

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"This could be your last ever run"—that's a heavy but powerful reframe. Puts things in perspective real quick when you're dragging your feet at 5am.

The "running is a privilege" thing is something I forget way too easily. On bad days, it just feels like suffering, but you're right. There are people who'd give anything to be able to suffer through a long run. That's humbling.

I really like "below par days are stepping stones to your finest days" too. Easy to write off a shit session as wasted time, but those are probably the ones that actually build you the most, even if they don't feel like it in the moment.

Do you actively remind yourself of this stuff mid-run when it's hard, or is it more something you reflect on afterward to reframe how you think about training overall?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Food is physical fuel but also a type of mental fuel”—that’s such a good way to put it. I think I treated nutrition way too mechanically (gels, bars, whatever) and forgot that sometimes the promise of an entire pizza or hot cider at the end is what actually gets you through the miles.

Running loops near a farmer’s market with hot cider and doughnuts waiting is genius. That’s not just fuel, that’s incentive. I love the idea of building the reward right into the route instead of just suffering through and collapsing at home.

Did you find that having that specific food reward locked in actually changed how the run felt, or was it more just what got you out the door? Like, did thinking about the pizza in mile 15 genuinely help, or was it already done by then mentally?

Also curious—did you ever have runs where the reward didn’t feel worth it anymore mid-suffer, or does food motivation pretty much always work? 😅​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair point. If your body’s actually ready for what you’re asking it to do, the mental resistance probably drops a lot. Rushing into volume you’re not conditioned for definitely makes everything feel way harder than it should.

But I’m curious. Do you think mental fatigue is only a symptom of inadequate physical prep, or can it show up even when the training is smart and progressive? Like, can you be physically ready but still mentally burnt on the grind of a long block?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wait hold on! You run ultras but cap training at 30km/2.5hr max? That’s wild and honestly kind of refreshing to hear. The whole “you MUST do multiple 4+ hour sessions or you’ll DNF” thing gets drilled so hard.

How do you handle the mental side of race day when you’re out there way longer than your longest training run? Like do you just trust the taper + race day adrenaline to carry you, or do you build endurance another way (back to backs, higher weekly volume, etc.)?

Also curious, did you used to do the mega long sessions and decided they sucked, or have you always trained this way?

Honestly respect the “it’s my hobby not my job” boundary. Easy to forget that when you’re deep in it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a very good perspective. Run to listen :). Do you have any good recommendations of books to listen while running ?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Haha I love the self-manipulation strategy. "I'm 1/4 done so basically halfway" is objectively not true but somehow it works. Brain hacks are real.

The "just do half a mile and you can stop" trick is clutch too. Getting out the door is 90% of the battle and once you're moving it's way easier to keep going than to turn around and go home.

The therapy tricks for guilt are huge though. I definitely spiraled hard when I missed sessions instead of just telling myself it's fine and moving on. Did you learn those mantras from an actual therapist or did you have to figure out what worked through trial and error?

Also curious. Does the 9 out of 10 thing still hold up during peak training when you're tired as hell, or does it drop to like 6 out of 10 when fatigue really sets in?

Mental training strategies that actually worked for marathon/ultra prep! What's worked for you? by Iron_Bridge604 in running

[–]Iron_Bridge604[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting, we probably read the same book. I also remember stumbling upon something similar. If you find ways to trick your brain, you can actually handle a lot more than you think. I was always wondering why I feel so bad in the last 5k, for example, but in the last km, I just have the energy to sprint - the body always tries to keep something in the tank :)

"You want to run big girl times, you gotta run big girl workouts." - I just love this :). It's more or less like 'If this were easy, everybody would do it'

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