They say that running is 90% mental, so if you plan on signing up for Lake Oswego’s Lake Run set for May 12, that can be a good thing.

Known as “the race you love to hate,” it throws a lot at you that can boost your efforts (like the views) as well as thwart them (like the McVey climb). Knowing what the challenges are, you can be mentally (as well as physically prepared for them). Here are some things to think about (and say to yourself) to keep your head in the game.

1. “I am so grateful for the views.” The glimpses of the lake are breathtaking and sure beat the scenery of some other races you could have signed up for like the sand, sand, and more sand of the Sahara Race in Egypt. So count your blessings.
2. “It could be worse.” Sure, the McVey Hill is a doozy, and especially challenging as it hits you within the first mile of your run. But according to maymyrun, it’s only a Category 5 climb, making it the least difficult of categorized climbs. Yes, it could be a lot worse if you were running the Mt. Washington Road Race in Gorham, New Hampshire. Instead of a 3% gradient, you’d be looking at 12% as you tackle a 7.6 mile climb up Mt. Washington which tops out at 6,288 feet.
3. “I can do this.” Chances are, even if you’re hurting, or have to walk, you will finish the race. You might not be able to say that if you were competing in the 2001 Siberian Ice Marathon. Record freezing temperatures (averaging minus 39 degrees Farenheit) prevented 92 percent of the starters from finishing the race.
4. “Just think about how good I’m gonna feel when I cross the finish line!” There will be lots of fanfare, a banner to herald your arrival, clapping and cheering fans, pictures and a Family Fun festival. Visualizations help even the most elite of runners so picture yourself running with your hands up and a big smile across your face as you cross the finish. And look at it this way—at least you have a finish line. If you signed up for one of the 13 Wings for Life runs around the world, you wouldn’t. Instead the race ends when a Catcher Car (that sets off 30 minutes after the race starts at a speed of 9 miles an hour) passes you! How anticlimactic is that!
5. “I’m doing this for a good cause.” Sometimes if you’re really feeling the pain, it helps to stop thinking about YOU and start thinking about SOMEONE ELSE. In this case, it’s the Annie Ross House and Northwest Housing Alternatives, the charity that will benefit from your entry fee. Annie Ross provides emergency shelter and services for families experiencing homelessness. So think about them to get yourself through any rough patches you hit along the way.

Registration for the 42^nd annual Lake Run is open. Fees increase after April 30 and are $35/$45 for the 10K, $30/$40 for the 5K, and $15 for the Kids’ Dash. T-shirts are only guaranteed if you register by April 30. Course details and further information is available online.

Want to learn more about the Lake Run? Read some of my previous posts here, here and here.

And if you want to stay on top of what’s happening in Lake Oswego, be sure to subscribe to my blog by clicking the “Sign me up” button in the top right hand column.