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Illustration of runners in a race

Workshop

The runner’s mindset

Your legs have done the miles. It’s the voice in your head halfway round that decides the race.

Goal setting, state control, mental rehearsal and the story you tell yourself before the start.

Works well for
Runners and running clubs, from 5K to ultra, and easily adapted for other groups
Length
From a single session to a full day
Delivery
In person or online

What people leave able to do

Set a goal that works

Use the five-part well-formed outcome to set a race goal that’s positive, specific, right for them and in their control.

Control their race-day state

Change the pre-race story, use an anchor and steady nerves with 3-3-6 breathing.

Rehearse the run

Mentally rehearse the race so the body already knows the way when it counts.

What happens in the session

The person runs, not just the body. This is more than a pep talk on race day.

  • The accountability contract. A promise to be your own best friend and talk to yourself constructively.
  • One system. A live demonstration of how mind and body work together.
  • Well-formed outcomes. Positive, ecological, specific, evidenced and in your own control.
  • State management. What pre-race story do you tell yourself? Anchoring, and breathing in for 3, hold for 3, out for 6.
  • Mental rehearsal. Relax, picture the course, see yourself run it perfectly, then step into it. Ten minutes, two or three times a week.
  • On the day. Focus on the process, not the outcome, and check in with yourself as you go.
  • Afterwards. What went well, what needs to be different next time, and what do I need to believe now?

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For: Athletes and squads who lose focus under pressure

The instant-focus routine and the mistake reset, practised until they’re automatic.

For: Clubs, teams and coaches

The link between sport and mental health, the five steps to wellbeing, and how to notice when a teammate is struggling.

What people say about John on Google

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Ash Stead
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As a strength coach, I look for a coach that follows their own advice, I found that in John, he’s uplifting. He taught me tools and exercises I could use for my mental performance and energy and guided me through them expertly. Anyone into sports or training hard physically should defiantly see john!
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Joe & Claire Tompkinson
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I’m fortunate enough to be coached by John and despite him being an expert in mindset and techniques such as NLP, our sessions are always warm and flow so easily. It’s like having a chat with a good friend. Much of our time is spent discussing mindset techniques in a business / professional context but John has also really helped me understand the link between that and my family life and the wider aspects of wellbeing. I look forward to our session every fortnight and I’ve actually now asked John to come and coach myself and the wider leadership team in my business. It’s said of coaching, that it’s an investment in ourselves but I don’t think we always understand fully just how important that investment actually is. I can’t thank you enough, John, for the incredible support.
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D S
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John has support the whole team with their Mental Health First Aid at Work qualifications - such a nice guy, couldn’t recommend him more!
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Dave Nelson
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I’ve got to know John both professionally and personally over the last 3 years. He’s one of the most genuine, humble and kindest men around. During the course of the last year I asked him to help my teenage son with his mindset and confidence. My lad loves the sessions and we’ll keep doing them for as long as we can and need them. Thank you, John.
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ianbarrettmusic
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John at JL Mindset is extremely passionate about the topics that he delivers. As a trainer he is engaging, knowledgeable and approachable, putting the needs of the delegates first. I’d have no issue at all recommending/referring John and often do. 👍🏻
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Karen Salmon
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We have trusted John with our clients, staff and family for different needs. He is down to earth, professional and empathetic to all situations and emotions. He has made an amazing difference to all their lives and their outlook and given them the confidence to be themselves. He teaches them coping mechanisms which are invaluable and stay with them. He also checks up on all his clients even after sessions are finished. He is our 1st go to when we have a loved ones that need support. And would recommend him to anyone.
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Jeff Tucker
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I cant recommend John highly enough, we met through our Charity Best Mates and have passed multiple beneficiaries his way to help them get their lives back on track. John is extremely friendly and approachable but more importantly he is the complete professional. He also took us through our level 1 Mental Health First Aid Training so if you are looking to do this in business or personal, again, dont hesitate to contact him. All the best John, thanks for doing what you do.
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RWB RFC (Alan Low)
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John has been invaluable in supporting both individuals needing mental health guidance and our squads with goal setting and performance. His expertise and approach make a real impact, whether in group sessions or one-to-one. During the pandemic, he led a fantastic programme that reached all our senior and junior squads, providing vital support at a crucial time. Players always respond brilliantly to John, and he is an absolute pleasure to work with. Highly recommended!
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Nick Holder profile picture
Nick Holder
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Working with John has been an incredible experience. Before I started with him, I struggled with staying motivated to exercise and was constantly overthinking. From our very first session, John helped me shift my mindset, break free from limiting beliefs surrounding my new job, and build habits that actually work for me. Even going for a walk on one session. John’s approach is both practical and insightful. He took the time to understand my personal challenges and provided strategies that were tailored to my needs. Thanks to his guidance, I’ve not only become more consistent with exercise but also learned how to manage my thoughts in a way that helps me move forward rather than holding me back. One of the biggest transformations I’ve experienced is learning to silence my inner critic and take action without overanalyzing everything. John’s support and encouragement have given me the confidence to trust myself more. His coaching has made a big impact on my life, and I’m so grateful for his support!
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Laura Dent
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We used John to do our level 3 mental health first aid training, absolutely brilliant delivery, John's teaching methods really helped us understand the content in great detail and we feel so much more competent in our roles! Thank you John
John Lewis smiling, sitting on a bench in front of a graffiti wall

Ask John about this workshop

Tell John about your team and when you’d like to run this workshop. He’ll come back to you with how it could work for your people.

Prefer to talk? Call John on 07947 808 675
or email john@jlmindsetperformance.co.uk

JL Mindset Performance Enquiry