54. Why Trying to “Catch Up” Is Making Your Training Harder (And What To Do Instead)

54. Why Trying to “Catch Up” Is Making Your Training Harder (And What To Do Instead)

In this episode of Your Running Coach with GMacSpurr, Gillian explores why trying to “catch up” after missed training sessions is often making your running feel harder, more stressful, and less enjoyable than it needs to be. If you've ever missed a few runs and immediately felt guilty, panicked, or convinced yourself you needed to cram extra miles into your week to get back on track, you're not alone. Coach G unpacks the psychology behind catch-up mode, why so many runners interpret missed sessions as proof they're failing, and how the pressure to be perfect can quietly sabotage consistency. Through personal experiences, mindset coaching, and powerful reflections, you'll learn why the real challenge often isn't the missed training itself, but what those missed runs make you believe about yourself. This episode dives into self-trust, all-or-nothing thinking, perfectionism, and the emotional patterns that keep runners stuck in cycles of guilt, overcorrection, and burnout. With journal prompts like "What does being behind make me believe about myself?" and "What am I actually afraid a missed week means?", this conversation will help you build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with your training. Because confidence isn't built by catching up - it's built by learning how to return when life doesn't go to plan. Links: - Join the Summer Consistency Reset [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/summer-reset] {limited spots} - Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project [https://gmacspurr.com/mental-toughness-for-runners] (aka TRIP) - Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/consultation] - Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching [https://gmacspurr.com/become-a-better-runner] - Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge [https://gmacspurr.com/31X31]  - If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here [https://gmacspurr.com/music-to-run-to] - If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series [https://gmacspurr.com/what-to-eat-on-your-run]. Let's stay in touch: Follow @gmacspurrcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/gmacspurrcoaching] on Instagram Join the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr [https://facebook.com/groups/yourrunningcoachwithgmacspurr/] community and keep the conversation going www.gmacspurr.com [https://www.gmacspurr.com/]

53. Why Your Long Runs Feel So Mentally Hard (and Why Mindset Hacks Aren’t Fixing It)

In this episode of Your Running Coach with GMacSpurr, Coach G explores why so many runners struggle mentally during long runs, and why “mindset hacks” and motivational tricks often fail to create lasting confidence. If you’ve ever found yourself spiralling halfway through a run, questioning your fitness, catastrophising about race day, or convincing yourself you “can’t do this”, this episode is for you. Coach G breaks down what’s actually happening psychologically during hard runs, from discomfort intolerance and fear-based thinking to the pressure runners place on themselves when things stop feeling easy. Rather than teaching you how to avoid difficult thoughts, this episode will help you understand why your brain reacts the way it does during endurance training - and how real confidence comes from building self-trust inside discomfort, not escaping it. Through honest personal reflections, powerful mindset reframes, and journal prompts like “What do I make discomfort mean about me?”, this conversation will help you stop treating every difficult run like proof you’re failing. Because mentally strong runners aren’t the ones who never struggle - they’re the ones who stop panicking when struggle shows up. Links: - Join the Summer Consistency Reset [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/summer-reset] {limited spots} - Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project [https://gmacspurr.com/mental-toughness-for-runners] (aka TRIP) - Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/consultation] - Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching [https://gmacspurr.com/become-a-better-runner] - Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge [https://gmacspurr.com/31X31]  - If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here [https://gmacspurr.com/music-to-run-to] - If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series [https://gmacspurr.com/what-to-eat-on-your-run]. Let's stay in touch: Follow @gmacspurrcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/gmacspurrcoaching] on Instagram Join the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr [https://facebook.com/groups/yourrunningcoachwithgmacspurr/] community and keep the conversation going www.gmacspurr.com [https://www.gmacspurr.com/]

52. Why You’re Spiralling Before Race Day

Are you mentally spiralling before race day, questioning your training, or suddenly convinced you’re not ready for your marathon or half marathon? In this episode of Your Running Coach with GMacSpurr, running mindset coach Gillian dives into the real reason race week feels so mentally hard, and why race anxiety often has far more to do with mindset, self-worth, and fear of failure than fitness itself. She talks about: * pre-race anxiety in runners * overthinking before a marathon * fear of not achieving your running goal * why runners panic during taper week * race day mindset * perfectionism and self-doubt in running * building self-trust as a runner * why running apps and training plans don’t solve mindset struggles If you’ve ever felt like your entire worth is tied to your race result, this episode will help you feel calmer, more grounded, and more supported heading into race day. Perfect for runners training for a marathon, half marathon, or big running goal who want to stop self-sabotaging and start running with more confidence and trust. Links: - Join the Summer Consistency Reset [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/summer-reset] {limited spots} - Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project [https://gmacspurr.com/mental-toughness-for-runners] (aka TRIP) - Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/consultation] - Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching [https://gmacspurr.com/become-a-better-runner] - Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge [https://gmacspurr.com/31X31]  - If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here [https://gmacspurr.com/music-to-run-to] - If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series [https://gmacspurr.com/what-to-eat-on-your-run]. Let's stay in touch: Follow @gmacspurrcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/gmacspurrcoaching] on Instagram Join the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr [https://facebook.com/groups/yourrunningcoachwithgmacspurr/] community and keep the conversation going www.gmacspurr.com [https://www.gmacspurr.com/]

51. Stop Comparing Your Runs: How to Beat Strava Envy and Enjoy Running Again

Do you ever finish a great run, check Strava or Garmin, and suddenly feel like that run wasn't good enough? You’re not alone. In this episode of Your Running Coach with GMacSpurr, running mindset coach Gillian dives into the common trap of comparing yourself to other runners. Learn why these thoughts happen, how your brain tricks you, and practical strategies to stop the ‘ugh’ from ruining your runs. Plus, discover simple mindset exercises and journaling prompts to celebrate your progress, build confidence, and reclaim the joy of running - without obsessing over pace or distance. If you’re ready to stop comparing, start enjoying every run, and strengthen your mental game, this episode is for you. Links: - Join the Summer Consistency Reset [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/summer-reset] {limited spots} - Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project [https://gmacspurr.com/mental-toughness-for-runners] (aka TRIP) - Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/consultation] - Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching [https://gmacspurr.com/become-a-better-runner] - Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge [https://gmacspurr.com/31X31]  - If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here [https://gmacspurr.com/music-to-run-to] - If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series [https://gmacspurr.com/what-to-eat-on-your-run]. Let's stay in touch: Follow @gmacspurrcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/gmacspurrcoaching] on Instagram Join the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr [https://facebook.com/groups/yourrunningcoachwithgmacspurr/] community and keep the conversation going www.gmacspurr.com [https://www.gmacspurr.com/]

50. The Belief That’s Keeping You Stuck: Why Running Hard Isn’t Making You Faster

Why are you not getting faster - despite running consistently and pushing yourself every week? If you’ve ever felt like slowing down means losing progress, or that every run needs to feel hard to “count”, this episode is for you. In this episode of Your Running Coach with GMacSpurr, Coach G breaks down one of the most common beliefs holding runners back: that running hard all the time is the key to getting faster. The truth? This mindset is often the exact reason you feel stuck, plateaued, or constantly fatigued. You’ll learn: * Why running every session at a moderate-to-hard effort is limiting your progress * How the belief “harder = better” is quietly sabotaging your speed * The mindset shift that allows you to train smarter, recover better, and actually improve your performance * How to redefine “hard work” in a way that supports long-term running success This isn’t about adding more mileage or pushing even harder - it’s about changing how you think about your training so your effort finally pays off. If you’re tired of working hard without seeing results, this episode will help you break out of that cycle and start running with more clarity, confidence, and purpose. Links: - Join the Summer Consistency Reset [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/summer-reset] {limited spots} - Re-write your running story with The Runner Identity Project [https://gmacspurr.com/mental-toughness-for-runners] (aka TRIP) - Curious about what coaching could do for you? Jump on a consultation call with Coach G [https://tidycal.com/gmacspurr/consultation] - Break through what’s holding you back and unlock your next level with 1:1 Coaching [https://gmacspurr.com/become-a-better-runner] - Join 31x31: 31-Day Self-Trust Challenge [https://gmacspurr.com/31X31]  - If you like to listen to music on your run, grab your new fav running playlist here [https://gmacspurr.com/music-to-run-to] - If you are guessing what to eat before, during & after your run then look no further - grab this 3-part running fuel series [https://gmacspurr.com/what-to-eat-on-your-run]. Let's stay in touch: Follow @gmacspurrcoaching [https://www.instagram.com/gmacspurrcoaching] on Instagram Join the Your Running Coach by GMacSpurr [https://facebook.com/groups/yourrunningcoachwithgmacspurr/] community and keep the conversation going www.gmacspurr.com [https://www.gmacspurr.com/]