Dakotah Lindwurm is sometimes called an “underdog,” regardless of quite a few podiums on the marathon distance in working.
Lindwurm, by all accounts, shouldn’t have turn out to be an Olympic marathoner for Crew USA. She ran in faculty at a small Division II college that wasn’t precisely recognized for cranking out skilled athletes, and she or he was a substitute instructor 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 strengthened her expertise when she completed twelfth within the marathon at this summer time’s Paris Olympics, the very best end for an American lady within the marathon on the 2024 Video games.
“I’m tremendous pleased with my end result on the Olympics, and I’m actually grateful that I had such a terrific expertise there,” Lindwurm tells Effectively+Good. “It’s one thing I’m at all times 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 angle of happiness.
“I’m going into the New York Metropolis Marathon probably 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 thing that occurred.”
Now, in a yr that Lindwurm describes as a “the most effective yr I might 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—regardless 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 thing that occurred.” —Dakotah Lindwurm
1. Spend time together with your folks
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 pals and supporters to maintain her going.
“Once I’m not feeling my exercise for the day, I attempt to recruit pals and even my fiancé to come back with me, or I’ll even convey my canine alongside,” Lindwurm says. “One thing about seeing my pals or working teammates and chatting makes the miles fly by— working with pals is one in all my favourite issues to do.”
In a yr that has actually 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 probably the most from skilled runners are the massive, consequential occasions just like the Olympics, Lindwurm likes to combine in native, shorter-distance races only for enjoyable, too.
“You’re at all times 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 bear in mind why I like working,” Lindwurm says. “If the smaller race goes effectively, that’s tremendous cool, however even when it doesn’t, you possibly can keep in mind that you signed up primarily to have a superb time, and that’s what’s most necessary.”
Incorporating shorter-distance, “enjoyable” races whereas coaching for an extended or extra intense race generally is a good technique to apply on your large day, too. You may dial in your diet and hydration technique, the garments and footwear 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 significant metropolis, and you could even see a buddy or two on the beginning line.
3. Get misplaced in a superb playlist or podcast
Whereas Lindwurm is a agency believer in runners being comfy with their very own ideas and the challenges of being pals together with your mind—particularly on race day—sometimes, she makes use of a pump-up playlist or podcast to reconnect together with her pleasure of working.
“Once I can’t loop my fiancé or pals 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 think about both of these as just a little 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 a superb motivational track, and it’s positively my most embarrassing track on my pump-up playlist.”
Hey, no matter works to convey a smile to your miles!
“If you happen to 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 food regimen primarily made up of uber-healthy staples like salad, rice, and rooster. Lindwurm makes certain she’s getting the vitamins she must carry out at an elite degree, however she is not any stranger to a candy deal with or two.
“I 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 kind 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 method too usually delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “However it makes me glad.”
Working in treats—candy or savory—that convey a number of moments of bliss to your style buds could make a future 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 could be tempting to maintain pushing laborious after discovering success in working—or in any sport. However those that are really clever athletes know that taking a break can truly enable you discover extra success down the street than in case you by no means let up within the first place.
Lindwurm most positively doesn’t ascribe to the “no days off” mantra that always floats round social media or is alleged by working “gurus.”
“If you happen to’ve had a nasty day and each bone in your physique doesn’t wish 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 truly reignite your pleasure in working. By the top of that break, you could discover you possibly can’t wait to get out the door for a run.”
Taking a break from a devoted working schedule could be scary, however Lindwurm advises others to embrace it, not concern it.
“If you happen to don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally drive you to take unplanned relaxation,” Lindwurm says. “I might quite determine once I’m going to take a break quite than my physique forcing it on me. For so long as I’ve been doing marathons, I’ve at all times taken a full week or generally even two weeks off after a race—the time without work goes to reward me, not damage me.”
