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 into an Olympic marathoner for Crew USA. She ran in faculty at a small Division II faculty that wasn’t precisely identified for cranking out skilled athletes, and he or she was a substitute trainer after which a paralegal after graduating.
After years of arduous 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 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 time’s Paris Olympics, the 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 a fantastic 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 he or she’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 effectively, that’s the cherry on high. And if it doesn’t, I can nonetheless look again at this yr and be pleased with all the pieces 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 seek out pleasure and appreciation for the method of being an elite marathoner—irrespective 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 all the pieces 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 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 come back with me, or I’ll even carry my canine alongside,” Lindwurm says. “One thing about seeing my mates or working teammates and chatting makes the miles fly by— working with mates is one in every 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 an enormous aim 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 keep 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 do not forget that you signed up primarily to have time, and that’s what’s most necessary.”
Incorporating shorter-distance, “enjoyable” races whereas coaching for an extended or extra intense race is usually a good method to follow on your massive 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 significant metropolis, and chances are you’ll even see a buddy or two on the beginning line.
3. Get misplaced in playlist or podcast
Whereas Lindwurm is a agency believer in runners being snug with their very own ideas and the challenges of being mates along with your mind—particularly on race day—from time to time, she makes use of a pump-up playlist or podcast to reconnect together with her pleasure of working.
“After I can’t loop my fiancé or mates into going for a run with me, I’ll dig into my checklist of podcasts that I save for runs or play my favourite pump-up songs and consider both of these as just a little psychological deal with,” Lindwurm says.
Lindwurm’s reply to being requested what one in every of her favourite hype-up songs is might shock you.
“I actually like ‘How Far I’ll Go,’ which is a tune from the Disney film Moana,” Lindwurm says. “It’s motivational tune, and it’s positively my most embarrassing tune on my pump-up playlist.”
Hey, no matter works to carry a smile to your miles!
“In case you don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally power 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 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 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 believe the meals supply man involves my home means too typically delivering cookies,” Lindwurm says. “Nevertheless it makes me completely happy.”
Working in treats—candy or savory—that carry a couple of moments of bliss to your style buds could make a long term further rewarding or a relaxation day really feel further soothing. Don’t shrink back from meals that makes you’re feeling good!
5. Take a break
It might be tempting to maintain pushing arduous after discovering success in working—or in any sport. However those that are actually clever athletes know that taking a break can truly provide help to discover extra success down the street than when 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 claimed by working “gurus.”
“In case 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, 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 tip of that break, chances are you’ll 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 worry it.
“In case you don’t take deliberate relaxation, your physique goes to finally power you to take unplanned relaxation,” Lindwurm says. “I’d 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 all the time taken a full week or generally even two weeks off after a race—the time without work goes to reward me, not harm me.”
