Mind over Marathon: Let your Mind Lead the Way

Apr 2, 2025

Two years ago, I laced up my running shoes and took the first step—not because I had a grand goal but because I needed it—something to quiet my mind and move through the heaviness that had slowly but surely overcome me.

So, I ran.

Just 20 minutes a day. No expectations, no pressure. It was just a chance to move my body and quiet my mind, as well as the ever-present worries about managing the kids, work, and life in my new reality.

At first, my body resisted—my lungs burned, my legs were heavy. And that mind of mine? It fought me at every step. The relentless feedback reel we know too well: “You can’t.” “You don’t have to do this today.” “It’s too much.” “You’re overwhelmed.” “That’s impossible.”

But day after day, I kept showing up. And, run after run, I didn’t realize that something in me started to shift. My body grew stronger—and more importantly, so did my mind.

Little did I know this small daily practice would completely transform my life.

The Power of the Mind

When you can’t outrun your heaviness, sometimes you can run through it, leaning into the discomfort rather than resisting it. Breathe through the struggle and be fully present in every step, every breath, and every heartbeat.

Running became more than movement; it was a mental exercise. I flirted with that encapsulating yet evasive edge, where time dissolves, and your body and brain become one. Now, stride by stride, I was finding my flow state. Mindfulness wasn’t just a tool; it became my secret weapon. I felt stronger, faster and more self-assured than I had in years.

And then, everything stopped.

A serious cycling accident descending Cypress Mountain left me broken, unable to physically and mentally move as I once did. It would have been easy to quit and let frustration win, but instead, I now see that I embraced a different kind of “training”—an opportunity to strengthen my mind in ways I did not know I could.

I came to grips with the reality that if this accident was going to force limits on my body, my mind would have to lead the way.

And it did.

Through pain, setbacks, multiple surgeries, rebuilding, and some of my lowest lows, I kept running. Not fast and certainly not far, but always forward.

Eventually, those strides forward linked together, and when I finally found myself at the start line of my first marathon, I carried these lessons with me. I didn’t just run that race—I tested my resilience, seeking ways to enjoy the moment, lose my mind and set my body free.

Step by step, I let my mind do what my body felt unsure it could.

And when I crossed the finish line with a Boston Marathon-qualifying time, I wasn’t just running on power, gels, or carbon shoes—I was running on resilience.

Movement Is The Medicine: This I know to be true: movement strengthens our bodies, sharpens our minds, and endlessly and enduringly teaches us to overcome, adapt, and grow.

This journey has taught me that it all starts with one step, stride, or inch forward. I now know that, like any obstacle in life, even the upward spiral is still the right path to powerful growth.

Three Ways to Build Mental Fortitude

1. Start Small and Stay Consistent

Mental toughness doesn’t happen overnight—it’s built and maintained through small, daily actions. Waking up daily and keeping your promises to yourself, even when you don’t feel like it. It’s like having an apple daily or walking for 20 minutes on Saturdays. Start small and keep your commitments. Every time you push through mental resistance, you train your mind to embrace discomfort rather than avoid it. In the toughest times of my runs and races, I call forward this mantra:

“You’ve been here before. It’s felt like this before, and you made it through.” This builds infallible self-trust.

2. Reframe the Struggle

Instead of seeing tough moments as obstacles, consider them opportunities to grow stronger. Turn despair into discovery. When your legs burn or your mind wants to quit, remind yourself: This is where the work/change happens. This is where you start to get stronger. A helpful narrative I have for times like these is to ask myself, “I wonder what my legs are trying to tell me?”

The struggle is not a roadblock—it is the path.

3. Train Your Mind

Like a Muscle Like your body, your mindset muscle strengthens the more you train it. Visualization is a secret weapon I’ve used to my competitive advantage since I was a young athlete competing in Nordic skiing. Here’s how:

The night before my big life moments, like an important presentation or a race, I often do a walk-through (in my mind) of what will happen. I visualize one instance of everything going well. Then I do it again; this time, I picture something going wrong and how I’ll overcome it! For example, the night before a running event, I’ll run the course in my mind; I might picture the moment I feel like I can’t go on, and I’ll visualize one of my supporters on the sidelines smiling or the positive self-talk I’ll use to overcome it, like: “You’ve got this; finish strong.”

The stronger your mind, the stronger your body.

Let Your Mind Lead the Way.

If you train your mind to be resilient, your body will follow.

And if you take that first step—just one small step forward—you never know where it will lead.

It could be to the starting line of your marathon or five-kilometre walk.

Maybe even to the finish line of a dream you never thought possible.

But it all starts with one step.

Are you ready to take it? I’m right there with you.

Kristen Anderson is more than a multi-sport athlete—she’s a passionate advocate for mental health. As a charity runner for CMHA Vancouver-Fraser, she’s running not just for herself, but for a cause: making mental health support accessible to all.

At CMHA-VF, we believe in putting people first. From Vancouver to the Fraser Valley, we offer innovative, inclusive, and collaborative mental health programs for individuals of all ages. Our charity runners, like Kristen, are our biggest champions, bringing these programs to life, ensuring that everyone feels seen, supported, and empowered. Join us in making a difference— Support our charity runners or by donating here.