The physical benefits of long-distance running cannot be overstated. From increased cardiovascular fitness to improved muscle endurance, challenging your body to take on distances over 3km (the official cut off point between short and long distance) is incredibly good for you.

Then, of course, there are the mental benefits. As someone who lives with a long-term mental health condition (OCD, if you were wondering), I’ve also come to see running as another part of my mental health toolkit. But alongside reducing my anxiety and helping me to shake off intrusive thoughts, running has also given me another important mental benefit: resilience. 

While I like to think I already possessed a good level of mental resilience before I started running – as anyone who has suffered with their mental health will know, it takes a lot of resilience to challenge and overcome a battle inside your brain – lacing up my trainers and pounding the pavements has taken my sense of self-belief and confidence to another level.

So now, as I approach the final stages of training for my first half-marathon, I’m looking back at the main lessons I’ve learned about mindset and resilience since I started running two years ago – and how they’ve helped me in other areas of my life, too.  

When I first started running, the idea of running 21k felt impossible – and I assumed that while my fitness levels would increase through training, that distance would always feel as hard and daunting.

That kind of fixed thinking wasn’t just inaccurate, it was also unhelpful. As I’ve upped my long-run distance week after week, my perception of what is ‘doable’ has changed completely. It’s proof that the way we see things is completely changeable, and that we have the power to shape that perception through hard work.

That’s not only a useful running lesson (it’ll be tough, but one day, I’ll definitely run a whole marathon), but it’s also shown me that the things I’m scared of or feel unable to do aren’t as far out of my reach as I might think.

It sounds cheesy, but you can do anything – it might just take a little extra hard work. 

Something most long-distance runners agree on is the fact that running is largely a mental sport. You need physical power to get through a 200m sprint, but your mind is fully in control when you’re out there for hours at a time.

Of course, you need to have a certain amount of physical endurance and strength to run, but that comes with consistent training. But you’re not just increasing cardio capacity on those early morning schleps around the park – you’re also brain training.  

I’ve noticed the impact of that mental workout in my everyday life. I feel less afraid to take on new challenges because I’m confident that I have the right mindset to carry me through. From new responsibilities at work to pushing myself to try new hobbies and meet new people, I know that I’m better able to cope with whatever gets thrown at me. 

Learning how to deal with self-doubt and worry is one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned about mental resilience on my running journey. As much as you can foster self-belief through self-care and other nurturing practices, there’s nothing quite like simply doing something you don’t believe is possible to give you some newfound confidence.

When I first ran 18k, I felt on top of the world – not only because I knew I was only 3k away from finishing a half marathon, but also because I couldn’t quite believe that my body had actually done that. Even at the start of the session, I wasn’t 100% sure that I’d make it to my goal.

While different people face different barriers when it comes to running, we can all take this as a reminder that you don’t need to feel totally confident in your abilities before you take on a challenge – sometimes, the little bit of self-doubt that’s bubbling along in the background will actually become your biggest source of motivation. 

Images: Lauren Geall; Getty