Mentally Strong

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. Fear can come in many forms and when we feel it, it can stop us dead in our tracks. Fear can paralyze a performer or athlete in the middle of a play or at the end of the championship game. When we experience fear, we get in our own way. Of…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. Although my high school days were so many years ago, they seem like yesterday. I have vivid memories of playing sports. My favorite sports were cross country and track and field and I remember my parents attending every meet they could. In fact, I can’t recall a meet they didn’t make.…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. My youngest son was born 5 years ago. At that time, I couldn’t imagine running a single mile, let alone a marathon. It was hard for me to get started; I felt overweight and out of shape. I started walking because running seemed too difficult. Then I added half a mile…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. As I walked back to our hotel the night before the Boston Marathon, I was just mad. Even though I knew I couldn’t control the weather, I was mad at Mother Nature. The weather was projected to reach a record high of 87 in Boston for the race the next day.…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. The thing I love most about marathon training — and sport in general — is its application to life. As in life, there are always ups and down. Some days go perfectly and some days just don’t. There are days when you feel like you could run forever and days when…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. I had the privilege of attending the U.S. Olympic Trials for the marathon last weekend. Roughly 300 of the fastest men and women in our country took to the streets of Houston with the hopes of representing our country in the London Olympic Games this summer. Their finishing times didn’t matter.…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. I’ve got big plans this year, including running the Boston Marathon in April. I have officially started training and have set multiple goals for the race—from being the best prepared I’ve ever been for a marathon to staying injury-free. This is a fine balance for me, because I have experienced injuries…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. When you play sports or compete in some way, it’s inevitable that you will deal with disappointment. It happens to all of us. Last winter, for example, I trained hard for the spring running season. I wanted to set personal record times—PRs—in both the half and full marathon. So I spent…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. I remember my last 20 mile race vividly: Running was effortless. I was completely immersed in the race. I felt energized, focused and alive. With each mile, I got faster and faster. I was on automatic pilot. Time seemed to pass quickly. What took me 2 hours and 27 minutes felt…

By Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D. I think about last year’s Mankato Marathon daily. It doesn’t matter that it was almost a year ago or that I have run another marathon since then. It is my best marathon experience to date, and so I make a point of thinking about it as often as I can. There’s…