What’s going on y’all! It’s coach Jay here and I’d like to introduce you to a new series called Coach’s Corner. The purpose of this series is to provide a space for you to get all your running questions answered by a professional run coach in your community. This series will feature tips, tricks, and advice from coach Jay and other guest experts to equip you with the knowledge and tactics to be the best runner you can be!
For those of you that don’t know me, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jay Welch. I am a husband, father, ultramarathoner, an RRCA certified run coach, and co-owner of The Runvangelists: a movement of runners seeking to get families moving together. I have been a member of the Twin city Track Club for the past 4 years and recently took over the position of editor of the TCTC Flyer. The club has made such a positive impact on my family and my running journey, and it is my honor to be able to give back in any way I can. I love helping runners (especially new runners) find their stride (see what I did there?) and fall in love with this transformative sport.
Speaking of new runners, there is one statement I hear more often than any other when working with athletes new to the sport. It comes in many variations but the root of it is always the same: “I’m not really a runner.” That begs the question, “What makes a Runner?” What does that even mean? Are runners born or can you become a runner? Is there a specific pace, experience level, ability, etc. that you need before you can call yourself a runner? The answer to that is an emphatic no. You really want to know what makes a runner? Just go for a run! That’s really all there is to it. If you put on your running shoes and head out for a run, congratulations, you’re a runner.
What it really comes down to is mindset and identity. I know, I’ve addressed new runners specifically, but this can apply to us all. Whether this is your first day running or you’ve been running for years, we all have the same “enemy”: our inner dialogue. The good news here is that this “enemy” can also become our biggest ally. How, you ask? The power to turn foe into friend, the power of life and death for your running identity lies in the tongue. The words you speak, especially to yourself, are going to be the biggest influence on whether you see yourself as a “runner”.
So, how do you affect that inner dialogue and make sure it’s working for you and not against you? One of the most powerful tools that I teach all my clients when they begin working with me is positive affirmations. Speaking these affirmations out loud to yourself before heading out the door for a run or a race can completely shift your mindset and give you the power you need to push through when pain or self-doubt tries to rear its ugly head. Here are a few examples to add to your toolbox. “I can do this.” “This is hard, and I can do hard things.” “This is making me stronger.” “I am enough.” “I am a runner.” “I am capable of overcoming any obstacle I face.” “I get to do this.” Give these a try the next time you’re heading out for a run and see how much of a difference they can make!
Thanks so much for joining me in Coach’s Corner! Have questions you want answered? Please email them to me at [email protected] with the subject line “Coach’s Corner” and I’ll address them in the next issue. You can also reach out to TCTC on Instagram and Facebook. I hope to see y’all out on the roads or trails soon and remember: if you’re out on a run, that means you’re a runner!
Until next time,
Coach Jay