By the Mizuno Shoe Guy
Two of the questions we, as runners, are continually asked by non-runners goes something like this: “What in the heck do you think about when you’re running? Don’t you get bored?”
Great questions.
Keeping your mind occupied and yet engaged while doing a solo run is not always easy. And yet, it can be a very fruitful, energizing period which eliminates any trace of boredom.
Running is entirely different from technique sports such as golf, tennis and even swimming in which you must stay engaged and concentrate on your form and strategy. Depending on how long you are running and whether you’re running by yourself, you simply can’t spend all your time thinking about form, foot strike, stride length, breathing, arm carriage or even your shoes.
Who would want to? Running 10-20 miles by yourself (or whatever) takes a long time and if you can disassociate some of that time by thinking less about running and more about your life, that time will pass much quicker.
Running by yourself might seem anti-social, but it’s the best time of day to disconnect from all the devices that rule our world and get in touch—uninterrupted by anyone or anything–with your true feelings and thoughts. My morning runs are my alone time and the time of day when I do my most productive thinking.
My mind doesn’t have to be focused on any one thing but it has to be focused on something. When I start my morning run, if a topic doesn’t immediately come to mind, I’ll deliberately choose something to ponder. But, I’m not a single-topic runner. Instead, I let thoughts come…and go.
Because I almost always have something to occupy my mind, I’m never bored and the time actually spent running, never drags. Often, I find my problem-solving skills are enhanced by running and the flood of oxygen to my brain. By the time I’m finished, I usually have reached a solution for an issue which has been bothering me. Not always, but often enough.
One study found that runners had more energy during their daily runs if they concentrated more on daily concerns, the scenery, their jobs or school and family issues. These are called dissociative thoughts; associative thoughts are when your mind is focused primarily on running.
During a race, our minds should work differently than on a training run. Racing requires us to have plenty of associative thoughts about the demands of the race, tactics, conditions, terrain and pacing. But especially in a race as long as a marathon, most runners fluctuate between dissociative thoughts (thinking about things other than the race) and associative thoughts about the next aid station, what nutrition to take, picking up the pace, running up and down hills, etc). The trick is to keep your head in the race by thinking ahead what you need to do and monitoring how you feel, without being too overwhelmed by these thoughts, and still allowing for abstract thoughts to flutter through your mind.
Needless to say, it isn’t easy, especially when you feel the effects of depletion that can play tricks with your mind. You can’t think your way around a marathon (or even a long run), but controlling your thoughts is better than allowing negative thoughts to control you.
A solo training run is much different than a race. The best advice is to only spend a small portion of your run actually thinking about your running. The bulk of the time freely disassociate away. Allow your mind to drift and wander, settling on a small problem, a new book, an upcoming trip or what to eat.
Or whatever. Nothing is too small or too large. Anything which interests you is fair game. It doesn’t have to be particularly fascinating as long as it’s a topic worthy of your time.
Here are some common topics to pass the time on your next solo run while keeping the mind engaged:
- Childhood memories, including important incidents that you may not have thought about in years. Examine each one in detail.
- A great teacher. Which teacher (s) had a profound influence on your life and why.
- A particular year of your life. Pick one and re-examine it month-by-month in as much detail as possible. The greater and more vivid the details, the better.
- Your next marathon. How you’ll feel at various points of the race. What the course will be like. With a mile to go on your training run, imagine how you’ll feel in the final mile of your next marathon.
- Former relationships. What went right and what went wrong. Remember the good and not-so-good times.
- Films. Make a list of your 10 favorites and try to remember the names of all the stars. Or, examine in detail a particular actor’s films.
- Music. My favorite. While running, I make lists of the best and worst bands I have seen. Best shows or favorite recordings of the greatest guitar bands of all time.
- Great races you’ve run. What went into each race and try to figure out why you ran so well. (Troubleshoot the bad ones.)
- Your next vacation. Where to go, what to see, where to stay.
- Work-related issues. You’d be amazed how easy it is to solve difficult problems while out on a run. Often, a solution will just pop up when you least expect it. (This blog was written in my head on a recent 20-miler.)
- What you’re going to eat and drink when you finish the run.