Have Internal Strength

I want to touch on the concept of mental toughness...mind over matter. I have always believed that it is important that you find your mind-set...your mental toughness.  We all have it, but most of us don't want to endure the physical pain in order to train your mind to be tough. It is a challenging process, and it will definitely test your willpower.  

I was reading this book and I just had to share the story of the MIND OVER MOUNTAIN with you. I was instantly fascinated and got so excited to blog this story.  It is one thing to have strength in fitness, but it is a whole new ball game when you have internal strength that will affect you in any situation.  And it is this type of strength that has the power to transform your physical performance.  So the story goes like this, The Tendai, also known as the marathon monks, of Japan's sacred Mount Hiei display an amazing illustration of mental toughness.  Over a seven-year period during their training, these monks test the limits of their endurance far beyond what had been thought possible.  They are expected to run 52 miles every day for a 100-day period--that's two marathons back to back. It is stated that such a feat is staggering but it's possible because of the INNER STRENGTH of the monks. A Tendai monk's running style during those seven years consists of focusing 100 feet in front of him while moving to a continuous rhythm of chant, and keeping his body, especially his head and shoulders, relaxed. And during the fifth year, each monk participates in an ancient running ritual by sitting and chanting mantras for nine days, without sleep or food.

As you can see, it is a very intense process and many of you may not  feel the need to prove yourself at that level, which is fine.  The lesson to be learned here is that you can't find your own way of preparing for something through internal strength. I think it is neat to hear how others take on challenges and find their own way of making the impossible possible. The monk's ability to train their minds and harness their inner strength is unparalleled. I think it is important to hear and understand other people's experiences.  We always hear about the world's greatest athletes and the way they persevered to the top through intense training and determination. BUT we don't usually hear about other individuals...like the monks.  When in reality, the life of the monk may hold the greatest secrets of all.  The desire to win might not be their main motivation, but they reach their goals because of their high level of DISCIPLINE and BELIEF in their own bodies to perform.

So try to apply some of these techniques to your own training and running regimen.  I have always believed it is never a bad thing to incorporate other things that may help you get better.  You never know, chanting during your runs, may make your minutes turn into seconds and, rather than getting increasingly bored during a run, you may feel alive and may find yourself moving steadily toward enlightenment. 
Burch, Sean. Hyper Fitness. Pgs. 86-88.