THE CALM MIND TOOLKIT
Four simple ways to keep calm and carry on running
#1 Make your own metrics
Running is often measured in very bland metrics: time, pace, distance. If you stick to these, there’s always going to be a threat to meeting those goals. Dr Perry says: “When people ask how our race was, we often feel compelled to give our finishing time. I urge runners to not tell others what time they did the race in because it’s measuring by the wrong metrics. We run because we love the headspace, it keeps us healthier and it gives us connection with our friends. My passion is helping people understand the metrics that actually matter to them, so they can start to measure those instead. For instance, what matters to me is that my daughter knows you don’t quit something halfway through. That really helps when I’m doing a poor time, because the metric for me becomes finishing.”