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Think Yourself Strong

Every night, just as we climb into bed and get ready for sleep, Little Miss Bull Runner will look at me with her puppy dog eyes and whimper: “scared.” And, every single time, I’ll reassure her I’m right by her side, switch off the lights, and hug her until she dozes off into la la land.

We all have our fears. Little Miss TBR is afraid of having nightmares. My son is petrified of the dark. I sometimes worry about the future and my children’s future. Bottom line: many of us fear the unknown.

LEVI2
- Running at Corregidor with hubby and Edward Kho. Photo by Levi Lakandula -

For runners, the unknown could churn out the following questions in our minds and keep us mortified for weeks on end: Can I finish 5k? Will I be able to do a 3:50 at Milo Marathon? Was my 50k long run enough to finish 102km at BDM? Will I come in last?

No one really knows the answer until you do cross that finish line and that terrifying unknown becomes reality. In the meantime, there’s nothing left to do but run.

Run your heart out in training. Climb those hills, give your all in that last lap on the track, and yes, hold up that plank position for the longest 10 seconds of your life. Remind yourself that running isn’t entirely about running; it includes cross training, proper nutrition, stretching, and rest. Do your homework…and then some. Be consistent. Stay committed to your dream.

The key is really to take hold of your fears, hide it beneath the soles of your running shoes, and take a leap of faith. Then, when judgement day comes, stand at the starting line with confidence in your work, pray that all things run smoothly from the weather to the water stations, and allow your body and mind to accomplish what they were trained to do.

Amby Burfoot said: “When it comes to staying motivated, running is a mind game.” If you start your training or your race telling yourself how scared you are, so you will be. But, if you think yourself strong, fast, and invincible, then you’ll cross that finish with arms raised high winning over your fears.

As my second husband, Lance Armstrong, always says: Livestrong. Truly, it is the only way to go whether you are running a race or living your life.

Posted on 07.20.11 to 01 Bullish Insights. Subscribe to follow comments on this post. 24 comments. Add your thoughts or trackback from your own site.

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24 Responses to “Think Yourself Strong”

  1. replace the fear of the unknown with curiosity. live curious.

    roy said on Jul 20 11 at 6:51 AM Reply

  2. Just in time. We have prepared so much for this Milo Marathon. Even exceeded the limits of the training program. But still there are doubts in our minds on how to execute our goals. You’re right, maybe it is about time to step on our fears. Thank you Jaymie. Wish us good luck!

    Lito C said on Jul 20 11 at 7:40 AM Reply

  3. nice artcile ms. jamie, it just made my day :)

    gracey alano said on Jul 20 11 at 8:16 AM Reply

  4. truly inspiring.

    caloy said on Jul 20 11 at 8:49 AM Reply

  5. Couldn’t agree more. :)

    PeñaRUNzi said on Jul 20 11 at 9:17 AM Reply

  6. Hi Jaymie! What a timely post for me :) Been awhile and getting back on track. Glad your blog is here to inspire me again! See you soon!

    Gigi said on Jul 20 11 at 9:55 AM Reply

  7. Grabe – You have very good timing on boosting a runner’s morale:-) can I share this with my sister who’s right now so pressured to beat the Milo cut-off time:-)?

    Jigs said on Jul 20 11 at 10:28 AM Reply

  8. Very well said Jaymie. “I can’t” are sad words in any language. It’s better to slow down and get there than never to arrive at all.

    Jonathan D. said on Jul 20 11 at 11:21 AM Reply

  9. Hi Jaymie, I’ve been with this fear for the past few weeks of training that i might NOT be able to qualify for milo(3:45). After reading your article, i was strucked with “stay committed to your dream” and “livestrong”. Now I just realized it again why I’m training and preparing for this. It’s because of my dream and having a mindset of being strong that jumpstarted me to train and to qualify in the first place.

    Thanks! This article sparked and lit myself once again.

    bryan ffs said on Jul 20 11 at 12:44 PM Reply

  10. pang pulitzer na yan ha!

    mikey said on Jul 20 11 at 2:18 PM Reply

  11. good article ma’am. congrats!

    edward said on Jul 20 11 at 10:07 PM Reply

  12. Hi Jaymie. Thanks for the great article, very timely. On Sunday my friends and I will run our 16K. We are getting out of our comfort zone and face greater challenge. I am also excited to train for my 21K debut on November, RunRio Trilogy (United Run 3).

    May God bless you more and more as you inspire a lot of runners. :)

    edencast said on Jul 20 11 at 10:46 PM Reply

  13. “Livestrong”

    The mind should have no boundaries?

    It’s what I think I figured it to be.

    martin said on Jul 21 11 at 1:47 AM Reply

  14. nice post! although natawa ako dun sa preference mo to Lance as your 2nd husband. Hahaha! :D

    Roelle said on Jul 21 11 at 9:44 AM Reply

  15. words truly have power…thank you for using your gift to ispire people.

    LYN said on Jul 21 11 at 10:20 AM Reply

  16. nice! thanks for this! well, i’ve been slacking off training for a while, and honestly, i think fear got in the way, anticipating how hard the training would be, especially the speed workouts. after a hard run during last weekend’s TriUnited in matabungkay, i fear the camsur 70.3 run, which is longer and hotter.. I’ll look fear in the eye and run strong, starting tonight and to the finish in camsur!

    tj isla said on Jul 21 11 at 6:20 PM Reply

  17. nice one! and pls invite your second husband to join us sometime. I’d really do my best to keep up =)

    miriam said on Jul 21 11 at 9:04 PM Reply

  18. very well written Jaymie. nice one :)

    jj said on Jul 23 11 at 2:38 AM Reply

  19. i like this line: “The key is really to take hold of your fears, hide it beneath the soles of your running shoes, and take a leap of faith.”

    very inspiring one. thanks, ms jaymie.

    ian said on Jul 29 11 at 11:22 AM Reply

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