Kudos to anyone who can use mantras effectively. For me, personally, I find them a bit insipid (kind of like self-affirmations, “every day, in every way…”). But if it works, do it!
What does work for me is counting. I may not believe I can finish another minute, but I know I can count 10 breaths (forceful inhales and exhales if it’s a hard workout). Then, when I get close to 10, I think “20”. Then “30”. And so on.
I saw this method recommended in a YouTube video on ultra marathons. Interestingly Cheryl Strayed mentioned the same technique in her book, “Wild”, about hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.
If you read “The Brave Athlete”, “How Bad Do You Want It”, or “Let Your Mind Run”, you’d have an understanding of the power of mantras. If you don’t know the how or why mantra’s work, the sports psychology behind it and how your mind (more accurately the parts of your mind/brain) versus body are in conflict; then mantras can seem silly, frivolous and useless as memes and over used phrases like “just do it”.
I agree with @Captain_Doughnutman, counting is not a mantra, but still effective. It’s two avenues to reach the same goal.
I did Leconte Lamarck and Laconte and my trick was to count pedal strokes, either total, or I break it down in to 1 minute sections. Then when I reset my count to 0 drop my shoulders, note my position and make adjustments (if I slid forward for instance) and keep focus on counting.
Don’t know if it counts as a “mantra”, but I find counting off steps (running) or pedal strokes (cycling) helps me detach from physical discomfort and keep pace through hard efforts.
Used this with our 10-year-old son while skiing: “eyes up, hands forward.” Just priming him to “talk back” to the internal negativity seemed to help. He reported using it when he came over a hill and his brain reportedly said “you’re dead.” He did fine.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs; who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
sometimes Kelly Clarkson comes to mind… “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…” … technically, assuming you get through the workout and recover appropriately, adaptions, etc, etc.
I don’t have a mantra as such, when the going gets really hard on the trainer I focus on imagining regular climbs I conquer outside, or beating a friend outside to a regular landmark etc.
Not quite a mantra but I imagine disactivating my engine room’s safety measures. In my mind it’s one of those covered switches where you have to flip back the cover before pressing the button. Pressing this imaginary button buys me more time in the red zone. I hope that makes sense!
At sub redline levels of effort I use “low and loose” as in keep aero and don’t tense up.