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 change into an Olympic marathoner for Group 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 instructor after which a paralegal after graduating.
After years of exhausting work earlier than and after her day job, Lindwurm started to seek out success on the marathon distance as an elite runner.
The 29-year-old cemented herself as a prime 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 season’s Paris Olympics, the best end for an American lady within the marathon on the 2024 Video games.
“I’m tremendous happy with my outcome on the Olympics, and I’m actually grateful that I had such an excellent expertise there,” Lindwurm tells Properly+Good. “It’s one thing I’m all the time going to look again at so fondly.”
Lindwurm is getting 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 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 nicely, that’s the cherry on prime. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this yr and be happy with every thing 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 seek out pleasure and appreciation for the method of being an elite marathoner—regardless of the outcomes.
“If the New York Metropolis Marathon goes nicely, that’s the cherry on prime. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this yr and be happy with every thing that occurred.” —Dakotah Lindwurm
1. Spend time along 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 associates and supporters to maintain her going.
“Once 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 certainly one of 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 training, 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 a giant 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 nicely, that’s tremendous cool, however even when it doesn’t, you may 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 generally is a good technique to apply in your large day, too. You may 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 significant 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 comfy with their very own ideas and the challenges of being associates along with your mind—particularly on race day—every now and then, she makes use of a pump-up playlist or podcast to reconnect together with her pleasure of operating.
“Once I can’t loop my fiancé or associates into going for a run with me, I’ll dig into my record 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 certainly one of her favourite hype-up songs is could 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 undoubtedly my most embarrassing track on my pump-up playlist.”
Hey, no matter works to carry a smile to your miles!
“In the event you don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally pressure you to take unplanned relaxation.” —Dakotah Lindwurm
4. Eat *all* the candy treats
Many individuals view skilled athletes as consuming a weight loss program primarily made up of uber-healthy staples like salad, rice, and rooster. Lindwurm makes positive she’s getting the vitamins she must carry out at an elite stage, however she isn’t 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 prime. 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 customer loyalty program: Pink standing.
“I feel the meals supply man involves my home method too usually delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “But it surely makes me comfortable.”
Working in treats—candy or savory—that carry a couple of moments of bliss to your style buds could make a future additional rewarding or a relaxation day really feel additional soothing. Don’t draw back from meals that makes you are feeling good!
5. Take a break
It could be tempting to maintain pushing exhausting after discovering success in operating—or in any sport. However those that are actually clever athletes know that taking a break can really enable you to discover extra success down the street than if you happen to 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 the event you’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, typically 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, it’s possible you’ll discover you may’t wait to get out the door for a run.”
Taking a break from a devoted operating schedule will be scary, however Lindwurm advises others to embrace it, not worry it.
“In the event you don’t take planned rest, your physique goes to finally pressure you to take unplanned relaxation,” Lindwurm says. “I might moderately resolve once I’m going to take a break moderately 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 typically even two weeks off after a race—the day off goes to reward me, not harm me.”
