The Dangerous Mind

The marathon training program the Saturday morning group I run with is using has this being a peak week as far as mileage and our longest long run of the 18 weeks. This Saturdays run will be 22 miles. Most of the runners have touched the 20 mile mark but this week will prove to be a tough one. Both physically and mentally. Though it is rare that any particular run goes perfectly, many will weigh their marathon training success on this longest of long runs. My suggestion would be to do that only if it is a successful run. If it goes bad, as runs sometimes do, learn your lesson and move on. To do any differently would be to ignore the dozens of successful runs you have accomplished to this point. This is just one run. Important? Sure. One to measure your over all success or failure? Absolutely not. With 3 weeks left after this weekends run there is still time to figure out and correct some training mistakes. Just because the training mileage backs off over the next 3 weeks doesn't mean your not still in training. Much to be gained or lost in these last 3 weeks. What you can lose is some fitness by not staying on top of things as far as diet, activity level and intensity. What you have to gain is confidence.

If you follow the training plan, you have trained your body to withstand the rigors of covering the 26.2 miles and along with that your mind is becoming familiar with what this is like as well which is both good and bad depending on how you deal with it. There is nothing like basking in an endorphin high after a tough run. The problem is during the run when you are struggling to keep pace and your mind is frequently telling you to stop or slow down. This is called the "I cant's". Don't listen to this. Get rid of these negative thoughts as fast as you can. As they say, go to your happy place. "Can, can, can, can". The more you dwell on your suffering the more it makes you suffer. Just ignore it and it will go away. If it doesn't go away, keep ignoring it. Of course if you are truly injured you must stop.

I believe that running is mostly a mental game. Sure you have to get your body used to pounding the pavement but the bottom line is always that the mind controls the body.

So if you've been sticking with the training plan for the past 14-15 weeks and whether you have a successful run this Saturday or not, trust that your body is prepared to take on the marathon and that you've earned your spot at the starting line. Now just convince your mind of that.