Sports psychology in pregnancy

When I used to be a runner (oh, how I long to be, intend to be a runner again, if I can), I would talk myself through difficult moments of training and races.

First and foremost, of course: Getting out the door. “Just go, Grace—just go!”

On long runs, when I’d find myself getting tired and losing form (straining forward or slouching), I’d say: “Straight up and down, straight up and down…” and I’d picture myself as a marionette being held up by strings, like my runner-dad taught me.

The example that comes to mind these days, as a very, very pregnant woman—37 ½ weeks along—is hills. I’m not talking about the Adirondack peak growing out of my middle, I mean the gumption and perseverance it takes to run up a hill—a long, gradual hill with a steep incline at the top. My self-talk for that situation, as a runner, is two-fold:

1) Psych up: “I can do it, I can do it, I can do it...” Or, “I own this hill; it’s mine.” And,

2) Think beyond: “The body will recover, the body will recover—just get there, just get there—the body will recover.” And I looked forward to the relief of the other side.

As now.