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Summer is the season for epic outdoor adventures, but to push your body to the limit, you first need to fortify your mind
With lockdown easing and the summer sun luring us all outside, now is the time to plan your next ultra-endurance run, long-distance ride or once-in-a-lifetime challenge. But to achieve your adventure goals, you will also need to conquer the stress, fear and self-doubt evoked by pushing your limits.
“Adventure activities are by their very nature uncertain,” explains Professor Andy Lane, who has studied the mental strategies of ultra-distance cyclists, polar explorers and elite marathon runners. “That uncertainty produces a range of emotions, but part of the motivation is to meet all the challenges presented. However, in order to prepare yourself ‘to boldly go where no man’s been before’, psychological preparation is needed.”