This guided mental rehearsal from hypnotherapist Vicky Carlier helps you manage ‘maranoia’, sharpen focus and arrive at the start line ready to run your best
As TCS London Marathon race day approaches, even the most prepared runners can feel their thoughts spiral – from second-guessing training to worrying about everything that could go wrong.
In the build-up to the London Marathon, this mental noise – often dubbed ‘maranoia’ – can be just as challenging as the miles themselves.
In a companion to our week-long stress-management plan, hypnotherapist Vicky Carlier shares a powerful, practical mantra designed to quiet the mind, build confidence and help you mentally rehearse success before you even reach the start line.
Vicky’s maranoia-beating mantra
Choose three words to carry with you as your marathon mantra – words such as calm, prepared, ready, or whatever feels right for you.
Find a quiet space and gently close your eyes. Begin to picture yourself standing at the start line, embodying those three words. Calm. Prepared. Ready.
As you imagine this moment, bring in as many senses as possible. Notice the feeling of the ground beneath your feet, the air on your skin, the sounds of the crowd around you. The more vividly you experience this, the more familiar it becomes to your mind and body.
Now allow the race to unfold.
See yourself starting steadily and calmly, able to tune out unnecessary noise and settle into your own rhythm. As you move into the middle miles, notice the consistency of your pace—calm, steady, controlled. Perhaps there is a song or rhythm that naturally supports you here.
The aim is not just to imagine the marathon, but to experience it – so that by the time race day arrives, it no longer feels unknown or overwhelming.
At some point, acknowledge that there may be more challenging moments. Rather than resisting them, see yourself meeting them with composure and quiet confidence. Remind yourself: this is just a moment. You are prepared. You have done the training. You are able to handle this.
Finally, bring yourself towards the finish line.
See it clearly. Feel the emotion – the relief, the pride, the sense of achievement. Allow yourself to fully experience that moment as you cross the line, knowing you have carried yourself through with strength and calm.
Why this works (from a hypnotherapy lens):
- It reinforces identity (you are calm and prepared)
- It uses sensory immersion (key for unconscious engagement)
- It normalises difficulty rather than fighting it
- It installs familiarity—so nothing feels like a shock on race day
“Take a few moments each day in the lead-up to the race to practise this.,” says Vicky.
“You might also like to write your marathon mantra on a post it note and stick it somewhere visible – perhaps in the bathroom – so you can gently repeat it to yourself each time you brush your teeth.”
• to contact Vicky Carlier Hypnotherapy, click here
