In our Sleeping With… sequence, we ask individuals from completely different profession paths, backgrounds, and phases of life how they make sleep magic occur.
Athing Mu has the operating resume that many high athletes work their entire careers to attain—and Mu has completed all of it whereas barely out of her teenagers. The 20-year-old’s rise to the highest of the operating world has been nothing wanting meteoric.
In 2021, the previous Texas A&M standout catapulted to fame when she shattered a number of collegiate operating information, turned professional as a university freshman, broke the US document, and have become the primary American in 53 years to win Olympic gold within the girls’s 800 meters (roughly half a mile). Regardless of a 2022 season shortened by a bout of COVID-19, Mu nonetheless managed to run a world-leading time of 1:57.01 in her marquee occasion final month. To place that one other approach, a brisk strolling tempo can be round 4mph. Mu gained her race operating at round 15mph.
For the reason that Tokyo Olympics, the middle-distance star has been adjusting to a brand new profession as a professional runner and the challenges that include it, together with elevated stress and media consideration. To assist deal with these new challenges, Mu has sought to do issues her approach by sustaining a routine that works finest for her: surrounding herself with an empowering help system that features her sports activities psychologist, coach, coach, and boyfriend; and simplifying the method by specializing in every competitors one by one.
“I am not attempting to do something past myself,” she tells SELF. “I am simply going to be the athlete that I’ve been the previous yr and a few change.”
As dedicated as she is to operating quick, Mu takes her restoration and bedtime routine simply as severely. Like so many athletes, she additionally believes correct sleep, leisure, and downtime is important to her success on and off the observe. Crafting a routine that fosters all of that’s nonetheless comparatively new: Mu says she couldn’t actually prioritize all the pieces she wanted as an athlete throughout her highschool days, when she lived together with her household as one in every of six siblings.
“I did not have time to be myself; we have been at all times collectively,” she says. “Now having my very own house, I can select what I wish to do, and that is in all probability why my routine has shifted.”
Actually, when SELF caught up together with her, Mu was specializing in the restoration side of her routine again residence in School Station, Texas, after efficiently defending her nationwide title within the 800 meters on the latest USA Monitor and Area Out of doors Championships in Eugene, Oregon final month.
Nonetheless, Mu doesn’t have a lot down time: She is scheduled to compete once more on July 21 within the first spherical of the 800 meters on the World Athletics Championships (additionally in Eugene)—the place she’s going for gold as soon as once more on the worldwide stage.
Just a few days earlier than she flew again to Oregon to start Worlds competitors, Mu instructed SELF how her bedtime routine helps her unwind from powerful coaching periods and equipment up for history-making performances on the observe.
Earlier than I even begin my routine, I take my canine by his.
Caring for my pug, Bentley—he simply turned 1—comes earlier than my routine begins: I take him by his routine earlier than I begin making ready for mattress. Bentley and I’m going on slightly stroll after which I get him his dinner.
More often than not after I’m preparing for mattress, I am exhausted from coaching.
I begin preparing for mattress round 9:00 P.M. First issues first, I take a bathe. I normally use Dove Deep Moisture as my physique wash, however after I have to get some actually good sleep or I have to get better from observe, I’ll swap that with Dr. Teal’s Physique Wash with Pure Epsom Salt, Sleep Mix with Melatonin. It’s so nice—it can make me so drained.
After I bathe, I begin my skin-care and teeth-cleaning routine.
I take advantage of CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser to clean my face, and afterward, I take advantage of CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for nighttime. Then I brush my tooth with Sensodyne as a result of I’ve delicate tooth and gums and that helps slightly bit. I floss and use Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash Cool Mint.
