I felt strong on my second Conte’s hill ride of the season, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. Those hills are hard and require mental fortitude as well as physical strength. I find myself drawing on various mantras to keep me going, but as my mind wanders sometimes a mantra turns into a prayer!
How A Mantra Turns Into A Prayer
Since this was my second ride of the season, I knew I was physically strong enough to make it up all the hills, but I still had to work to keep my head in the game. If I let myself think I can’t make it up a hill — I’m too tired, I’m in the wrong gear–it’s all over. I’ll stop pedaling and probably fall over, since I’ll be too discouraged to unclip before gravity takes over. Knowing this about myself, I made an effort to remind myself that I was still moving forward even if I was climbing s-l-o-w-l-y. As long as I am moving forward, I will stay upright and make it up the hill.
I started with the mantra Forward is a pace but that didn’t resonate because I didn’t care about my pace. So, that morphed into I am moving forward, which fit nicely with my strokes:
I am // moving forward
and then as the hill got steeper:
I / am / moving / forward.
That’s when God interceded on my ride:
God, the great I AM.
I was raised as a Christian Scientist, and learned this “definition” of God:
God: The great I AM; the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise, all-loving, and eternal ….
Obviously those Sunday School lessons stuck with me!
Once I had thought about praying, a more direct plea came to mind.
Lord, get me up this hill!
And that’s how a mantra turns into a prayer!
I know that I will draw on my Moving Forward mantra on future rides, but I also know that I won’t be able to think those words without also thinking about this prayer.
I’m joining the Friday link up at Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness.
Do your mantras ever morph into a different saying ?
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I can totally relate to this! I usually start out with “just keep going.” Then, it morphs into “stay with me.” I have learned that I have to focus on the “keep going” aspect instead of “make it end.” We do what we can, right?
Yes, Keep Going is a good one. It has to be positive or I may not. 😉
It certainly helps me to tell myself to keep going and focus on that opposed to looking at the end!
Loved this! I definitely can relate. When I recently ran a very tough, hilly trail run, I kept telling myself “Just keep moving. Don’t stop.” I have sometimes used a mantra/prayer, but not recently. Maybe I will try one again for my race on Saturday. Thanks for the reminder!
Mantras can be so helpful — it’s such a mind game!
All the time! Thanks for sharing–it’s always nice to know it isn’t just me.
All the time! Thanks for sharing–it’s always nice to know it isn’t just me.
Yes I try to use whatever comes to mind to keep going when the going gets tough
I can 100% relate to this! Whenever I am feeling tired in a race I always remind myself that “forward is a pace”. It doesn’t matter how you get there – walking or running – just don’t stop and keep moving.
I have a few of those mantras when I need to remember to just keep going and that I CAN do this! Good luck to you friend!
It’s amazing how powerful a few words can be!
I like that saying, “Forward is a pace”. I’m more of a countdown person than a mantra person.
I do like to countdown for intervals. For a long hill, I’d be afraid I’d run out of numbers before I got to the top. 😉
Interesting. I don’t think my mantras have ever morphed into something else, although sometimes I come up with no ones on the run (like don’t get cocky — came up with that one while running trails and almost falling).
I think it’s more that my mind is wandering!
I use whatever it takes to get up a tough hill. Riding up a hill is so different than running. At least with running there’s no (or very slim) chance of falling over!
Exactly!! Especially when you’re clipped in.
Stuff like that makes me think of Dory. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.” I use that a lot in life.
Yep, that’s a good one too! <3 Dory!
It’s funny how much mantras and things like this help! I definitely use them in tough races too.
I love that!! I usually don’t use specific mantras, but they definitely come in handy when the going gets tough! Your hard work on those hills will pay off for the Lancaster race!