Yesterday I ran a half marathon and it sucked.

So this week, I'm going to show you a stupid trick that's helped me stay motivated through 15 years of training — even when things don't go my way.

​(Click here if you want to see the full breakdown of the race and my training on Strava)​

Here's what happened.

As you might know, the hardest mental part of a half marathon is km 10–15. You question all your life choices and you have to stay in the pain with no end in sight.

Yesterday I got through that part, and by km 17 I only had 4km left. I was home safe, on track for a pretty decent time.

But then… lightning struck.

I got such a sharp pain in my stomach that I had to stop.

Completely.

I tried to run but I simply couldn't.

I walked a bit. Jogged a bit.

But no matter what I did, the pain was so severe that even jogging at my slowest pace put a tear in my eye.

From km 17 to the finish line, I went from 20th place and on track for 1:11… to 107th place, finishing in 1:17:33.

It absolutely sucked and I felt like never racing again.

But today I'm actually more motivated than ever to get back out there and train hard.

This is where the stupid trick comes in. It has two parts.

1. Accept when something sucks and let it suck for a day or two.

I don't believe in "just think positive" right after a defeat. Allow yourself to be disappointed and discouraged.

Because if you put your heart and soul into something, of course it stings when it goes wrong.

If it didn't sting, it never meant anything to you in the first place.

Then, after a day or two take one lesson with you and — as Elsa from Frozen would say — let it go.

2. Go read the stories of people who can't run.

Hop on YouTube, Reddit, Facebook groups, wherever and read comments and stories from people who aren't able to run.

Not because they don't want to, but because they can't, due to injury or worse.

You'll instantly be filled with gratitude for the simple fact that you GET to run.

It's such a privilege.

And in the grand scheme of things, that bad week, race, or session really doesn't mean much — as long as you get to keep fighting another day.

Or better yet (and this is what I do):

Keep a diary when you're injured or sick, reminding yourself just how much you MUST enjoy running once you're back.

Then read it whenever you feel demotivated.

And if you're injured or unable to run right now, here's what I want on repeat in your head on the way back:

The bigger the dragon, the more epic the hero.

Nicklas

PS. Click here to get a world class training plan, that'll make you run faster​

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