Ely Runfest – Hypnotherapy for Running

This past weekend, I ran the half marathon at the Ely Runfest event.

Being Welsh, I’m not always a fan of running in the Fens, especially on a blustery day like the one of the race. I’d rather a few hills along the way, or at least my legs seem to prefer it. However, I really enjoyed this race.

I’ve completed the Ely Runfest marathon on two occasions in the past. We are quite lucky to have it on the doorstep here in Ely with the start/finish located right outside the awesome Ely Cathedral. As always, it was a well organised event with friendly and supportive marshals along the route. The fantastic organisation is a real credit to Ely Tri Club who host the event. And the medal is among the best I’ve ever received for completing a race.

I wrote a while back about how I was planning to run the marathon at the Runfest. Sadly, life got in the way of that. Thankfully, the organisers kindly let me drop down to the half marathon so I could still take part (thanks so much again!).

I’ve written plenty of times about the mental health benefits of exercise and activity. It can help with issues such as anxiety, stress and depression. It’s certainly not a ‘fix-all’ but all the research and evidence shows it helps.

When it comes to running (and all sports), your mindset is key to how well you perform. Hypnotherapy can help with so many of the psychological and emotional aspects around running and sport. If you want to perform to the best of your capability, then hypnotherapy can help you to get there.

Hypnotherapy for Running

I work with many athletes of all levels and who compete and train in all sorts of sports. Being able to manage your thoughts, feelings and emotions applies regardless of the actual sport. Perhaps because of my own running and training, I work with a lot of runners.

You need the motivation and focus to get your training done. You want to be calm and composed before a race. And you want to be mentally focused and strong during the race itself. Your imagination, self talk, expectation, motivation and belief all play a role in how well you do and how capable you feel.

At the half marathon, the wind was blowing strongly the whole way around. Somehow in the Fens, whichever direction you run in, the wind still seems to be in your face! At the start it was chilly, and aside from a few moments of cover and sunshine, the strong wind was the prevailing feature of the race. I’m glad I wore my hat!

I was pleased with my time of one hour and forty six minutes (finishing 18th out of 93 finishers). It was quicker than I expected and probably the fastest I’ve run for a good ten years. Funnily enough, it was the sort of time I used to complete a half in about twenty years ago (before I joined Ely Runners an got faster as a result). There must still be some life in the old legs yet!

One thing I was acutely aware of during my run was how runners need to control their inner dialogue. Those thoughts inside your head can either help or hinder you. Especially when the going gets hard, or when you are fatigued, that little voice can turn negative and persistent. It urges you to slow down or stop, it reminds you how hard it is, how much it hurts and it taps away with thoughts of not being able to keep going or achieve what you set out to. At various times during the half marathon I had to pull out some of my strategies for interrupting and redirecting my self talk.

There’s more about hypnotherapy for running over here: Hypnotherapy For Running

Every race brings the anticipation, preparation and planning beforehand. And then, after running the race, there is the high of having completed it and the excitement about planning the next event. I’ve already stated having a look for my next running challenge. I’m sure I’ll be back at the Ely Runfest next year too.

And if you could use some help to achieve your running goals then do get in touch and we can meet for a chat about how we can work together to get your mindset in the best place for peak performance.

To your running success, 

Dan Regan

Hypnotherapy for Running in Ely & Newmarket

Want to learn more about how to improve your running performance with hypnosis for running? Find out how I can help with a Complimentary Hypnotherapy Strategy Session. Learn more here: Appointments

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