5 Strategies That Help Olympic Marathoner Dakotah Lindwurm Find Joy in the Training Process

Dakotah Lindwurm is sometimes called an “underdog,” regardless of quite a few podiums on the marathon distance in working.

Lindwurm, by all accounts, shouldn’t have turn into an Olympic marathoner for Workforce USA. She ran in faculty at a small Division II college that wasn’t precisely recognized for cranking out skilled athletes, and she or he was a substitute trainer after which a paralegal after graduating.

After years of onerous work earlier than and after her day job, Lindwurm started to search out success on the marathon distance as an elite runner.

The 29-year-old cemented herself as a prime American distance runner when she positioned third on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials again in February, and strengthened her expertise when she completed twelfth within the marathon at this summer season’s Paris Olympics, the very best end for an American lady within the marathon on the 2024 Video games.

“I’m tremendous happy with my consequence on the Olympics, and I’m actually grateful that I had such an awesome expertise there,” Lindwurm tells Properly+Good. “It’s one thing I’m all the time going to look again at so fondly.”

Lindwurm is getting ready to toe the beginning line of the 2024 New York Metropolis Marathon, and she or he’s doing so with an angle of happiness.

“I’m going into the New York Metropolis Marathon essentially the most excited I’ve ever been for a World Marathon Main as a result of I’m not nervous in any respect,” Lindwurm says. “This 12 months has been actually nice, and if the New York Metropolis Marathon goes properly, that’s the cherry on prime. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this 12 months and be happy with every thing that occurred.”

Now, in a 12 months that Lindwurm describes as a “the most effective 12 months I may ever dream of,” she shares how even with a excessive quantity of coaching and racing, she’s continued to search out pleasure and appreciation for the method of being an elite marathoner—regardless of the outcomes.

“If the New York Metropolis Marathon goes properly, that’s the cherry on prime. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this 12 months and be happy with every thing that occurred.” —Dakotah Lindwurm

1. Spend time together with your folks

Even skilled runners have days when the sofa appears extra interesting than racking up miles. When that feeling comes round for Lindwurm, she depends on her neighborhood of buddies and supporters to maintain her going.

“After I’m not feeling my exercise for the day, I attempt to recruit buddies and even my fiancé to come back with me, or I’ll even deliver my canine alongside,” Lindwurm says. “One thing about seeing my buddies or working teammates and chatting makes the miles fly by— working with buddies is one in every of my favourite issues to do.”

In a 12 months that has actually had its pressures and intensities, Lindwurm’s shut family and friends have helped her keep constant all through her marathon coaching, whether or not for the Olympics or for a World Marathon Main just like the New York Metropolis Marathon.

2. Race for enjoyable

Though the races you’ll hear about essentially the most from skilled runners are the large, consequential occasions just like the Olympics, Lindwurm likes to combine in native, shorter-distance races only for enjoyable, too.

“You’re all the time going to have a giant aim or race that’s sitting on the market sooner or later, so having some enjoyable, low-stakes races like a Turkey Trot combined in helps me bear in mind why I like working,” Lindwurm says. “If the smaller race goes properly, that’s tremendous cool, however even when it doesn’t, you possibly can do not forget that you signed up primarily to have time, and that’s what’s most necessary.”

Incorporating shorter-distance, “enjoyable” races whereas coaching for an extended or extra intense race generally is a good method to follow in your large day, too. You may dial in your diet and hydration technique, the garments and sneakers you’ll put on on race day, and naturally, your pacing plan.

As an added bonus, native races often have a a lot much less intense vibe than large-scale occasions like a marathon in a significant metropolis, and chances are you’ll even see a pal or two on the beginning line.

3. Get misplaced in playlist or podcast

Whereas Lindwurm is a agency believer in runners being snug with their very own ideas and the challenges of being buddies together with your mind—particularly on race day—on occasion, she makes use of a pump-up playlist or podcast to reconnect together with her pleasure of working.

“After I can’t loop my fiancé or buddies into going for a run with me, I’ll dig into my checklist of podcasts that I save for runs or play my favourite pump-up songs and consider both of these as slightly psychological deal with,” Lindwurm says.

Lindwurm’s reply to being requested what one in every of her favourite hype-up songs is might shock you.

“I actually like ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ which is a music from the Disney film Moana,” Lindwurm says. “It’s motivational music, and it’s positively my most embarrassing music on my pump-up playlist.”

Hey, no matter works to deliver a smile to your miles!

“For those who don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to ultimately pressure you to take unplanned relaxation.” —Dakotah Lindwurm

4. Eat *all* the candy treats

Many individuals view skilled athletes as consuming a food regimen primarily made up of uber-healthy staples like salad, rice, and hen. Lindwurm makes certain she’s getting the vitamins she must carry out at an elite degree, however she isn’t any stranger to a candy deal with or two.

“I like Crumbl Cookies,” Lindwurm says. “I actually love any of their cheesecake-flavored cookies or any of the cookies which have that yummy, thick frosting on prime. Any week the place Crumbl has a bunch of these kind of cookies in inventory, I’m ordering them.”

Lindwurm admits she is within the highest tier of Crumbl Cookies buyer loyalty program: Pink standing.

“I feel the meals supply man involves my home means too typically delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “But it surely makes me pleased.”

Working in treats—candy or savory—that deliver a number of moments of bliss to your style buds could make a long term further rewarding or a relaxation day really feel further soothing. Don’t draw back from meals that makes you are feeling good!

5. Take a break

It might be tempting to maintain pushing onerous after discovering success in working—or in any sport. However those that are actually smart athletes know that taking a break can really show you how to discover extra success down the street than in case you by no means let up within the first place.

Lindwurm most positively doesn’t ascribe to the “no days off” mantra that always floats round social media or is alleged by working “gurus.”

“For those who’ve had a foul day and each bone in your physique doesn’t wish to run and nothing is working to get your self out the door, typically that’s your physique asking for a break,” Lindwurm says. “Taking a week-long break can really reignite your pleasure in working. By the tip of that break, chances are you’ll discover you possibly can’t wait to get out the door for a run.”

Taking a break from a devoted working schedule might be scary, however Lindwurm advises others to embrace it, not concern it.

“For those who don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to ultimately pressure you to take unplanned relaxation,” Lindwurm says. “I’d moderately determine after I’m going to take a break moderately than my physique forcing it on me. For so long as I’ve been doing marathons, I’ve all the time taken a full week or typically even two weeks off after a race—the time without work goes to reward me, not harm me.”