Facing the Mental Noise Before Race Day
In May 2022, I finished the Barcelona Marathon, but in the two weeks leading up to it, my mind was piping up with all kinds of negative commentary: What if race day doesn’t go to plan? What if I don’t finish?
Numerous “what if” scenarios were playing out in my mind. That kind of thinking wasn’t going to set me up for success on race day.
Recognising the Pattern of Self-Doubt
As I reflected on those thoughts, I realised this wasn’t the first time I’d experienced this kind of mental chatter. A similar pattern emerged during my climb to the summit of Mont Blanc. On the final day of the climb, I found that mastering my mind was one of the biggest challenges—not the cold, not the altitude, but my own internal dialogue.
Reframing the Inner Monologue
From my Mont Blanc climb, I learned the importance of creating space to reframe my thinking. Dismissing self-doubt and actively replacing it with words of encouragement was a conscious choice. By shifting my internal narrative, I changed the trajectory of my day—and ultimately reached both the finish line in Barcelona and the summit of Mont Blanc.
