Dakotah Lindwurm is sometimes called an “underdog,” regardless of quite a few podiums on the marathon distance in operating.
Lindwurm, by all accounts, shouldn’t have turn out to be an Olympic marathoner for Crew USA. She ran in school at a small Division II faculty that wasn’t precisely identified for cranking out skilled athletes, and she or he was a substitute trainer after which a paralegal after graduating.
After years of laborious work earlier than and after her day job, Lindwurm started to search out success on the marathon distance as an elite runner.
The 29-year-old cemented herself as a high American distance runner when she positioned third on the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials again in February, and bolstered her expertise when she completed twelfth within the marathon at this summer time’s Paris Olympics, the best end for an American lady within the marathon on the 2024 Video games.
“I’m tremendous pleased with my outcome on the Olympics, and I’m actually grateful that I had such an excellent expertise there,” Lindwurm tells Effectively+Good. “It’s one thing I’m all the time going to look again at so fondly.”
Lindwurm is making ready to toe the beginning line of the 2024 New York Metropolis Marathon, and she or he’s doing so with an perspective of happiness.
“I’m going into the New York Metropolis Marathon essentially the most excited I’ve ever been for a World Marathon Main as a result of I’m not nervous in any respect,” Lindwurm says. “This yr has been actually nice, and if the New York Metropolis Marathon goes effectively, that’s the cherry on high. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this yr and be pleased with every part that occurred.”
Associated Tales
Now, in a yr that Lindwurm describes as a “the very best yr I may ever dream of,” she shares how even with a excessive quantity of coaching and racing, she’s continued to search out pleasure and appreciation for the method of being an elite marathoner—irrespective of the outcomes.
“If the New York Metropolis Marathon goes effectively, that’s the cherry on high. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this yr and be pleased with every part that occurred.” —Dakotah Lindwurm
1. Spend time together with your individuals
Even skilled runners have days when the sofa appears extra interesting than racking up miles. When that feeling comes round for Lindwurm, she depends on her group of associates and supporters to maintain her going.
“After I’m not feeling my exercise for the day, I attempt to recruit associates and even my fiancé to come back with me, or I’ll even carry my canine alongside,” Lindwurm says. “One thing about seeing my associates or operating teammates and chatting makes the miles fly by— operating with associates is one in all my favourite issues to do.”
In a yr that has definitely had its pressures and intensities, Lindwurm’s shut family and friends have helped her keep constant all through her marathon coaching, whether or not for the Olympics or for a World Marathon Main just like the New York Metropolis Marathon.
2. Race for enjoyable
Though the races you’ll hear about essentially the most from skilled runners are the large, consequential occasions just like the Olympics, Lindwurm likes to combine in native, shorter-distance races only for enjoyable, too.
“You’re all the time going to have an enormous purpose or race that’s sitting on the market sooner or later, so having some enjoyable, low-stakes races like a Turkey Trot blended in helps me keep in mind why I really like operating,” Lindwurm says. “If the smaller race goes effectively, that’s tremendous cool, however even when it doesn’t, you possibly can do not forget that you signed up primarily to have an excellent time, and that’s what’s most essential.”
Incorporating shorter-distance, “enjoyable” races whereas coaching for an extended or extra intense race generally is a good technique to observe to your massive day, too. You possibly can dial in your diet and hydration technique, the garments and sneakers you’ll put on on race day, and naturally, your pacing plan.
As an added bonus, native races normally have a a lot much less intense vibe than large-scale occasions like a marathon in a serious metropolis, and chances are you’ll even see a pal or two on the beginning line.
3. Get misplaced in an excellent playlist or podcast
Whereas Lindwurm is a agency believer in runners being snug with their very own ideas and the challenges of being associates together with your mind—particularly on race day—on occasion, she makes use of a pump-up playlist or podcast to reconnect along with her pleasure of operating.
“After I can’t loop my fiancé or associates into going for a run with me, I’ll dig into my listing of podcasts that I save for runs or play my favourite pump-up songs and look at both of these as a bit of psychological deal with,” Lindwurm says.
Lindwurm’s reply to being requested what one in all her favourite hype-up songs is might shock you.
“I actually like ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ which is a track from the Disney film Moana,” Lindwurm says. “It’s an excellent motivational track, and it’s undoubtedly my most embarrassing track on my pump-up playlist.”
Hey, no matter works to carry a smile to your miles!
“In case you don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally drive you to take unplanned relaxation.” —Dakotah Lindwurm
4. Eat *all* the candy treats
Many individuals view skilled athletes as consuming a weight loss plan primarily made up of uber-healthy staples like salad, rice, and hen. Lindwurm makes certain she’s getting the vitamins she must carry out at an elite stage, however she is not any stranger to a candy deal with or two.
“I really like Crumbl Cookies,” Lindwurm says. “I actually love any of their cheesecake-flavored cookies or any of the cookies which have that yummy, thick frosting on high. Any week the place Crumbl has a bunch of these sort of cookies in inventory, I’m ordering them.”
Lindwurm admits she is within the highest tier of Crumbl Cookies buyer loyalty program: Pink standing.
“I feel the meals supply man involves my home approach too usually delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “But it surely makes me joyful.”
Working in treats—candy or savory—that carry a number of moments of bliss to your style buds could make a long term additional rewarding or a relaxation day really feel additional soothing. Don’t shrink back from meals that makes you are feeling good!
5. Take a break
It might be tempting to maintain pushing laborious after discovering success in operating—or in any sport. However those that are really sensible athletes know that taking a break can really show you how to discover extra success down the highway than when you by no means let up within the first place.
Lindwurm most undoubtedly doesn’t ascribe to the “no days off” mantra that always floats round social media or is alleged by operating “gurus.”
“In case you’ve had a foul day and each bone in your physique doesn’t need to run and nothing is working to get your self out the door, generally that’s your physique asking for a break,” Lindwurm says. “Taking a week-long break can really reignite your pleasure in operating. By the top of that break, chances are you’ll discover you possibly can’t wait to get out the door for a run.”
Taking a break from a devoted operating schedule could be scary, however Lindwurm advises others to embrace it, not worry it.
“In case you don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally drive you to take unplanned relaxation,” Lindwurm says. “I’d reasonably resolve once I’m going to take a break reasonably than my physique forcing it on me. For so long as I’ve been doing marathons, I’ve all the time taken a full week or generally even two weeks off after a race—the day off goes to reward me, not damage me.”