I’m not going to lie, I’d never really given much thought to the mental side of ultra running so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. But I like to think I’m fairly open minded so didn’t think I had anything to lose by reading it, and I honestly think it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
The book is written by Addie Bracy (pictured below), an experienced ultra runner who also happens to have a master’s in sports and performance psychology, so she is ideally positioned to write about this.
The book is broken down into 10 chapters, each one dealing with a different psychological aspect of ultra running.
Complete with a real-life example, from either the author’s or an elite athlete’s experience as well as written mental skills exercises for you to complete.
The author makes it clear right from the start that this book is not a quick fix solution and that only by putting time and effort into mental training in partnership with your physical training will you get the maximum benefit from the techniques described in the book.
Chapter 1.
Deals with why psychological breakdowns occur in ultra running, and why it’s important to find out what your mental weaknesses are, and to develop the skills to turn them into strengths.
Chapter 2.
Your WHY for running. Identify your values and build a deeper connection to running.
Chapter 3.
Manage your stress response. How to control your nerves and your response to external stimuli to remain calm and collected.
Chapter 4.
Being comfortable with being uncomfortable. How to embrace and overcome the mental and emotional challenges of ultra running.
Chapter 5.
Run the mile you’re in. How to focus on the present and on what you can influence and avoid being distracted.
Chapter 6.
Stick to the grind. How to prioritise your behaviours to maintain motivation and consistency.
Chapter 7.
Be adaptable. Learn how to problem solve and cope with adversity.
Chapter 8.
Run with courage, Approach challenges with an open mind and be able to relinquish control.
Chapter 9.
Get out of your own way. Manage doubts and control negative self-talk, be able to find confidence and belief in your abilities.
Chapter 10.
Emotional bounce back. How to respond to setbacks and roadblocks with a positive, action orientated approach.
So for full disclosure, when I was asked to write this review I was given access to an electronic version of the book and when I started reading the first chapter I was fairly skeptical about what I would get out of it, but by the time I’d finished that chapter, I’d ordered a hard copy from Amazon (other booksellers are available).
The written exercises make you take a long hard look at yourself and why you run. And this was something that I found deeply therapeutic. In the subsequent chapters you can find pretty much everything you need to build the mental toolkit to deal with any situation the comes up in an ultra as well as real life examples from people who have been through it.
I’ve already started to use some of the techniques mentioned in the book and look forward to using more in the future.
I can honestly say that I think every ultra runner I know would benefit from having a copy of this book in their locker, and I heartily recommend it to everyone.
Review by Craig Jackson
Mental Training for Ultrarunning by Addie J. Bracy
Click here to view the book.
Pros
✅ Real life examples
✅ Mental health exercises
✅ Recognise own strengths
✅ Self confidence tips