Endurance sports like distance running and swimming often wear down competitors mentally very much as physically. In particular when a race is 1/2 to 2/3 complete, many athletes get a slight panic attack. A tiny 'Geez, I'm tired already, and I still have significantly to go.' They become discouraged, lose confidence, and to be able to push themselves as hard as can.Here are some mental tricks to maintain your long-distance athletes from hitting that mental 'wall.'EXPECT IT TO HAPPENFirst of all, be sure your athletes realize until this mental dip is common, and will probably occur at the 1/2-2/3 point involving race. If they realize it's coming and is something they can push through, they won't become discouraged.Be particular tell your athletes that races often won or lost in these middle stages, where contact with the lead group can be lost due to not enough confidence. Regardless of methods tired they think they are, what is can mount a strong finish once then it's time to kick, therefore the key to many races is that third of the race just before final stage.BREAK THE RACE INTO INCREMENTSFeeling tired and thinking about running another two miles can be very discouraging. However, thinking about running another quarter mile isn't so demanding.So have your athletes break the remaining race distance into smaller increments and focus on each of those increments one with a time. For example, in cross-country have them think, 'OK, I'll just get myself to that tree.' Once there, they focus on, 'Now, just run to that bend in the trail.'

On the track or in the pool, have them think, 'Ok, let's just swim well for this lap.' Then another lap, an additional. As they get near the end of the race, have them focus on the small increments of distance which have left and compare that to intervals they regularly perform in practice. 'OK, just two laps to go, I that all the time in practice.'MONITOR THE CONTROL PANELTo take care of your mind occupied while keeping relaxation and technique, have your athletes imagine they're monitoring their body's control panel-like a big switchboard with each and every body's functions controlled by big dials and gauges. Encourage them go through everyone of their body's switches and monitor their functions one at a time, turning in the relaxation and/or tempo as the race progresses. For example, have them monitor their jaw for teeth-clenching, shoulders for scrunching, fists for tightening, etc.If your athletes have difficulty remembering to repeat on a constant basis, have them pre-select certain points on the race track at which need to check their key pad. For example, in the track race, this could be at start off lines for the 400, 1500, 200 and 100m races on each clapboard.PRACTICEFinally, these techniques should be regularly practiced in workouts and not left only to race day. Mental training is an art and craft that only become effective with constant practice.