Cross country season is right around the corner, meaning summer base tarining is coming to an end. Many of you have spent the last couple of months building base strength to handle the upcoming workouts and races. Miles are being recorded, weights lifted, and core work completed. Your bodies are becoming fine tured machines that will fit your uniform and spikes well.

But what have you done about your mind? How have you trained yourself to be mentally fit when you toe the line? 

If the asnwer is that you haven't done anything, don't worry, there is still time to build your mental base to match, or even surpass, your physical strength by following these three steps.

First, set your goal for the upcoming season. What is it you want to accompish? Do you want to make teh varsity top seven, hit a certain time, make all-conference, all-state? Whatever your goal is for the season, write it down and put it in a place where you can see it every morning right as you wake up.

Second, see the goal happening in your mind. Visualize yourself achieving this goal. See yourself running on the varsity team and what it looks like, or making all-conference, or all-state and how that feels. Visualize how you are running at your goal pace, feeling comforatable and in control.

Third, practice visualizing your goal every day for a few minutes at a time. Just like your base training for your body, the more you practice the stronger you will become. The goal being to make that vision so real to you that your mind will automatically give it to you when you need it.

The ultimate goal of working your mind, finding that mental edge, is so when you are running in a race and starting to get tired or losing focus you can remember and recall the way you want to run. By doing this, you will regain focus and your mind will allow your body to continue running strong and fighting for your goal.