Amateur Running Psychology

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Session Notes The Rival
Addressing:

Mental Blocks

Those training runs where your mind refuses to cooperate despite your body being physically capable, causing you to quit runs early or skip them entirely because you can't silence your inner critic

How The Rival Can Break Through Mental Blocks in Amateur Running

Posted on December 19, 2025 ~ min read
📋
For: The Rival athletes in Amateur Running
Focus: Session Notes - Mental Blocks
Read Time: ~10 min
Session Notes December 19, 2025
Profile: The Rival
Sport: Amateur Running
Challenge: Mental Blocks

In amateur running, mental blocks are those invisible walls where your mind refuses to cooperate despite your body being physically capable. You quit runs early. You skip sessions entirely. Your inner critic screams louder than your legs burn. For The Rival iconThe Rival (EOTA), this experience carries a unique sting because your mind thrives on competition, yet there's no opponent to channel your energy against when the block hits.

Here's what makes this different for you: athletes with opponent-focused competitive styles draw power from rivalry. When a mental block strikes during a solo training run, you lose access to your primary fuel source. The tactical mind that excels at reading competitors now turns inward, analyzing your own perceived failures with the same intensity you'd use to dissect an opponent's weakness.

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Vladimir Novkov

M.A. Social Psychology | ISSA Elite Trainer | Expert in Sport Psychology for Athlete Development

My mission is to bridge the gap between mind and body, helping athletes and performers achieve a state of synergy where peak performance becomes a natural outcome of who they are.

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