Be Your Own Hero: 6 Strategies to Help You Run Your Best Race

Do you have a hero? Is there someone you look up to for inspiration? Who motivates you to run?

Runners are fortunate to have some really good role models--we've got current elite runners, like Shalane Flanagan, Dean Karnazes, and Meb Keflezighi. There are also legends like Kathrine Switzer, Frank Shorter, and Bart Yasso.

But what about everyday heroes? Maybe it's your running partner that inspires you. Maybe you follow a popular Facebook page--there are quite a few runners who are page admins that have very large followings!

What about yourself? Is it possible to be your own hero? How can you inspire yourself to do great things on the road?

It's good to draw inspiration from others, but the best motivation comes from within. Heroes have qualities that we can all draw on: integrity, courage, positivity, perseverance, and self-awareness. Heroes set goals and by drawing on these qualities, are able to achieve those goals.

How can you be your own hero? I've listed 6 tips to help you on your quest to crushing your next running goal, but these tips can be applied to any situation in life.

1- Set your goal. Maybe you want to run a marathon. Be brave. Choose your race and pay for it. Commit to your goal as soon as you set it. Put it on the calendar and share your goal with others to help keep you accountable.

2- Choose a mantra that will remind you of your goal when you feel your motivation fading. Mantras are simple phrases that you can repeat to yourself whenever you need a little push. For every marathon I've run, I've chosen a mantra. Examples of mantras I've used include: I Can and I Will, Never Give Up, Positive Energy, I Got This, and Relentless Forward Motion. I wear them on my wrist as a constant reminder that I am my own hero.

3- Visualize yourself achieving your goal. I like to read race recaps of races I've signed up for so I can have an idea what I've gotten myself into. Review the route. A lot of races have time-lapsed videos of the race course and watching that can be helpful.

4- Avoid negative self-talk and stay away from naysayers. I'm an expert at negative self-talk. In fact, if there was a degree in negativity, I would have it. This is the one area where I have worked the hardest. Don't get me wrong, I still get down, but it's amazing how much better I do when I think positive thoughts. Hang out with positive people too.

5- Don't let a bad run cause you to give up on your goal. I found a great quote: Never let a stumble in the road be the end of a journey. Evaluate what happened, learn from it, and move on. Setbacks are inevitable. If you expect to achieve your goal, you will.

6- Set mini-goals throughout your training and reward yourself when you accomplish those goals. Maybe it's your longest of your long runs or a certain mileage. Of course, I like to reward myself with running clothes, but it could be anything you want. You could also give yourself mini-rewards after you train.

One reward that I like after a training run is to eat something tasty that will help me refuel my body. Protein is essential for recovery after a hard run to help speed muscle repair. If your body can't repair itself, the muscle breakdown will continue. I have to say that I do feel better if I fuel post run with high protein foods.

And be your own hero.

What's your go-to for post-race nutrition?