Dakotah Lindwurm is also known as an “underdog,” regardless of quite a few podiums on the marathon distance in operating.
Lindwurm, by all accounts, shouldn’t have turn into an Olympic marathoner for Group USA. She ran in school at a small Division II faculty that wasn’t precisely recognized for cranking out skilled athletes, and she or he was a substitute trainer after which a paralegal after graduating.
After years of exhausting 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 season’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 consequence on the Olympics, and I’m actually grateful that I had such an excellent expertise there,” Lindwurm tells Nicely+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 properly, 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 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—irrespective of the outcomes.
“If the New York Metropolis Marathon goes properly, 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 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 neighborhood of mates and supporters to maintain her going.
“After I’m not feeling my exercise for the day, I attempt to recruit mates and even my fiancé to return with me, or I’ll even convey my canine alongside,” Lindwurm says. “One thing about seeing my mates or operating teammates and chatting makes the miles fly by— operating with mates is certainly one of 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 essentially 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 all the time going to have a giant objective or race that’s sitting on the market sooner or later, so having some enjoyable, low-stakes races like a Turkey Trot combined in helps me bear in mind why I like operating,” Lindwurm says. “If the smaller race goes properly, that’s tremendous cool, however even when it doesn’t, you possibly can do not forget that you signed up primarily to have a superb time, and that’s what’s most essential.”
Incorporating shorter-distance, “enjoyable” races whereas coaching for an extended or extra intense race is usually a good solution to apply to your huge day, too. You may dial in your vitamin 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 serious metropolis, and it’s possible you’ll 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 snug with their very own ideas and the challenges of being mates together with your mind—particularly on race day—now and again, 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 mates 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 psychological deal with,” Lindwurm says.
Lindwurm’s reply to being requested what certainly one of her favourite hype-up songs is might shock you.
“I actually like ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ which is a music from the Disney film Moana,” Lindwurm says. “It’s a superb motivational music, and it’s positively my most embarrassing music on my pump-up playlist.”
Hey, no matter works to convey 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 positive she’s getting the vitamins she must carry out at an elite degree, however she isn’t 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 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 means too usually delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “However it makes me blissful.”
Working in treats—candy or savory—that convey just a few 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’re feeling good!
5. Take a break
It might be tempting to maintain pushing exhausting after discovering success in operating—or in any sport. However those that are really sensible athletes know that taking a break can really make it easier to discover extra success down the highway than in the event you by no means let up within the first place.
Lindwurm most positively doesn’t ascribe to the “no days off” mantra that usually 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 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 really reignite your pleasure in operating. By the tip of that break, it’s possible 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 might reasonably resolve after 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 harm me.”
