Last Lap, Best Lap

How Mindset Made the Difference at Tiger Claw 50K

"Last lap, best lap."

That was the mantra that echoed in my mind as I crested the final climb at the Tiger Claw 50K - legs burning, lungs tight, and heart racing. I'd been running strong all day, completely unaware of where second place was. Until now.

With just a few miles to go, as I crested the final climb, I looked back and saw her. Two minutes behind. I tagged the summit and turned for the final downhill. Game on.

In the past, that moment would have gotten in my head. I would’ve panicked, tightened up, started questioning everything. Am I fading? Can I hold her off? What if I blow up? Those thoughts used to creep in at the worst times, especially when pressure was high and my body was already at its limit.

But not this time. Not after the work I’ve put in this season, not just physically, but mentally.

The Power of the Pause

Instead of spiraling, I took a breath. I remembered the work I've done in the quiet moments: the visualization exercises, the mindset journaling, the focus on gratitude and trust. I reminded myself that pressure is a privilege. That discomfort is temporary. That I’ve prepared for this.

That pause, however brief, helped me shift from fear into action. It grounded me. It reminded me that I wasn’t at the mercy of the moment, I was in control of my response to it.

So I said the words that have carried me through workouts and races all year:
"Last lap, best lap."

And then I moved. Down the mountain, pushing into the effort, not from fear, but from belief. I ran my fastest downhill split of the entire day. I didn’t run away from her. I ran toward the finish. Toward the belief that I could run fast and powerful and with confidence.

Mindset Is a Muscle

Mindset doesn’t just show up when you need it. It’s built. Repped out. Trained like a hill repeat. Just like we condition our bodies, we need to condition our thoughts. It’s not always glamorous, it’s journaling on tired days, staying present on recovery runs, and being honest about the negative thoughts that sneak in.

Here are a few things that helped me build mine this season:

1. Mantras That Matter

Simple phrases can anchor you when your mind wants to spin out. "Last lap, best lap" is one I use to stay focused in the final effort. Others I love:

• "Strong and smooth."

• "I belong here."

• "Run the mile you’re in."

Repeating these phrases helps me come back to my breath, my effort, and the present moment. With practice, they become internal cues to reset and refocus.

2. Visualize Challenge (Not Just Victory)

When I visualize races, I don’t just picture the podium. I visualize the hard parts too, the cramping legs, the mental fog, the surprise competitor closing in. That way, when it happens on race day, it doesn’t rattle me. I’ve already seen myself handle it.

Visualization is a rehearsal. And just like physical practice, it makes the real moment feel more familiar and manageable.

3. Reframe the Stress

Nerves and pressure are part of the game. But I try to reframe them as excitement, as opportunity. When I felt that surge of fear seeing second place behind me, I turned it into fuel: You get to do this. You get to rise to the moment.

Stress and excitement are two sides of the same coin. The body responds similarly, it’s the story you attach to the sensation that makes the difference.

The Win That Mattered Most

Yes, I won the Tiger Claw 50K. And the Big Cat - Ascent + 50K (I raced the Ascent on Friday night before the 50K). But the win that mattered most wasn’t about beating anyone else. It was about trusting myself when it counted. It was about seeing the work I’ve done internally show up exactly when I needed it most - and that made all the difference.

Final Thought: Pressure Reveals, It Doesn’t Define

The next time you feel the heat of the moment—whether it’s a race, a work presentation, or just a tough day—remember this:

Mindset isn’t about controlling the outcome. It’s about meeting the moment with belief.

You have more in you than you think. And when you meet that moment with trust, with courage, with presence, you might just surprise yourself.

Train your body, yes. But train your thoughts, too. Because that last lap? It could be your best one yet.

💫

Let me know in the comments: what mindset tools have helped you the most?