With just about 2 weeks until I fly to Las Vegas to compete in my first ever World’s Toughest Mudder, my mind continues to race. I just got back from a great training weekend at “coach” Simon’s Long Trek Ranch, in Quebec. We converted his nearly 1,000 acres of land into a WTM training facility for about 48 grueling hours.

I had time to grill Simon on his 2 past experiences at the WTM and his lessons made me reflect on my past endurance mindset and how they might relate to World’s Toughest. Here are a few thoughts I’ve had when it comes to the mental side of endurance racing:

Be prepared to go on a mission [or in some cases, make-up your own adventure]. With every 24 hour race or adventure I’ve ever participated in, the course was either a point-to-point, a loop (or close to it) or an out and back.  I’ve found that if the course is logical and I simply need to get from point A to point B, I can easily stay focused on the task at hand without much self-convincing.  The contrived nature of the WTM course, with it’s short, repetitive loops will be a true test of will and determination. I will need to motivate myself to begin each new journey around the 2016 WTM course during the 24-hour timeframe.

Even in the middle of a long mountain traverse, we still made time for a light-sabre battle @ 13,000’

2) On that note,  you need to be motivated – either intrinsically or extrinsically to finish these long endurance feats. I believe my motivation is there, as it often is with the new or unfamiliar of challenges, but come hour 20 of the World’s Toughest Mudder, I sure hope I can hang on to whatever is fueling my desire to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Here I’m in full suffer mode, but a little smile goes a long way. I’ve had some of my best races rocking a pair of Jorts [Thomas Woodson Photo]

There may be 5 mile loops, 40 foot cliff jumps, long and challenging obstacles, but at the end of the day there’s one very specific distance that will determine success in endurance events: the six inches between your ears.

If you can maintain a positive mindset, and thus control what goes on in that relatively small 6-inch space, your experience over the vast majority of the entire Tough Mudder course will be a positive one. I truly believe that – After all, we voluntarily choose to embark in these adventures, so why wouldn’t we do what we can to ensure we enjoy every step of the journey!