Train Your Brain: Picture Your Success

Train Your Brain

Picture Your Success

Heather Bechtel MD

Visualization is one of many tools we can use to “train our brain.”  Imagining success teaches our brain and body to expect good outcomes.  Research shows visualization can help improve performance, reduce anxiety, and aid in injury recovery.  So how do we use this powerful tool?  Here is one example of how:

1. Imagine meeting your goal.  Begin at the starting line.  How does your body feel?  Imagine what your five senses will tell you in that moment.
2. Imagine what it feels like when “things get difficult” but you keep going.  What will you say to yourself?  How will you keep momentum to get through the difficulty?
3. Imagine meeting your goal at the finish line.  Again, what will your senses tell you?  Who or what will you see at this moment?  Are there any ways you will celebrate in that moment?

Now that you have your script imagined, revisit it throughout your training cycle.  The script can be especially helpful when the nagging “what if things go wrong” worries set in.  For bonus points, imagine meeting your goal in different circumstances.  For example, imagine how you will feel if it is a rainy/cold day, and you still achieve your goal.  If this foul weather does happen, you will be mentally more prepared for it.

For more information, check out this article on marathonhandbook.com (https://marathonhandbook.com/visualization-for-runners/).  Stay tuned for more examples in future articles.  See you on the trail!

Dr Heather Bechtel is an MIT participant, marathoner, pediatrician, and proud mom of 2.