3 Mental Strategies for When Racing Gets Hard

3 Mental Strategies for When Racing Gets Hard

From DB Performance Running Podcast by Dylan Belles

May 15, 2026 · 16 min

About this episode

Dylan Belles discusses mental strategies to overcome challenges during races.

You know this feeling. You're mid-race, pushing hard, and then that voice shows up - " this hurts," "just slow down," "you should quit."Here's the thing: that voice isn't a sign of weakness. It's your brain doing exactly what it's designed to do. And once you understand what's actually happening, you can stop letting it cost you races.In this video, I break down:- Why your brain sends the "quit" signal during hard efforts- The exact moment most runners lose the mental battle (and how to catch it)- Three tactics you can use mid-race to push through when everything in you wants to stop- The pre-race decision that changes everythingThis isn't about being tougher or grinding through on willpower. It's about understanding how your mind works - and training it the same way you train your body.

People in this episode

Host: Dylan Belles

Topics covered

  • mental strategies
  • racing
  • overcoming challenges
  • runner psychology
  • performance

Keywords

  • mental battle
  • quit signal
  • tactics
  • pre-race decision
  • runner mindset

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