Does anyone have any tips for ignoring the mind? My body was quite capable of doing a decent run this morning but I cut it short due to a litany of protest from my head. From the moment I set off it was non-stop: ‘This is horrible!’; ‘It’s too hot!’ (it wasn’t); ‘Help, there’s a small incline coming up!’; 'I can't do this!'; ‘Can I go home now?’ Whenever I’ve cut a run short it’s never been because of my body – always the drama queen on top.
Any thoughts gratefully received x
The curse of overthinking and yes, very familiar, but it usually happens to me before I run 'I don't have time, I'm unfit, it's too hot...' So as long as we're getting out there, it's all good. Once I'm running, it usually disappears as I get into the run. There are some techniques such as focusing on breathing or the sounds of your footsteps etc which I tend to do.
You didn't really have to cut short your run today Chipshop, one word we have here on the forum GREMLINS, those nasty little things that you feel in your head or other parts of your body while running, from now on ignore them and keep running, if you do have more serious pain any where on your body while running, then stop.
Oh that mind, yes I think most of us battle with that
Yep, and this morning I didn’t battle hard enough!
Mine says... Too old, too slow, why bother, what's the point, but once I'm out it shuts up, but just be proud you ran, better than not going
Absolutely. Any run is a good one
Sure is 😀
Try vocalising your own protests ... ie. saying out loud "shut up head!"
Excellent advice John_W , though my version's usually much swearier!
Haha! I think I'll try the sweary version 😂
If I'm at the point where I'm shouting out loud at gremlins I'm past being polite and restrained! I run in the countryside and there's very rarely anyone around to hear me 😈
There's a whole post on this somewhere! Turning the negative to positive..! I think we did it in Catch Up Corner...Mindful running...kick the gremlins into touch!!
Here it is!
Hi MrsBump , I can endorse John_W 's suggestion, which has worked for me on several occasions.
I've also found myself saying out loud "I am not a quitter." That's frankly bizarre, as "quitter" isn't a word I normally use, and it's only ever popped into my head when running.
Finally, I frequently break runs down into do-able chunks, and also tell myself that I can just run for another five minutes, or to that tree, or up that hill, or whatever. In fact the latter often results in my doing a more challenging run than I anticipated!
Hope this thread will provide some tips that work for you!
I find chanting "I can do this, I can do this" on repeat usually drowns out the gremlins 🙃
Yes! Actually that reminds me of Jo Whiley's advice on C25K : chanting 'I love running' on repeat almost convinced me I did! Until I forgot to do it 🙄
Another vote for choosing a running mantra! I have a few I use when things feel tough - ‘I’ve got this’ boring though it sounds, is the one I use most! 🙂
Gremlins can be a real nuisance and can ruin a run, so having a few ways to kick them to the kerb is helpful. Good luck!
I also do little deals with my mind. OK it is hot but let's just do another 500m, 5 minutes, 1k etc and see how it goes and then repeat. Acknowledge your mind's concerns and challenge them just a bit then a bit more. Very satisfying to overcome those concerns.
Listening to music helps me not to think about gremlins - I consciously try not to sing out loud though, as with my awful singing voice and my very slow pace I'd get some very odd looks and probably lots of rude comments 😉 And as someone on the forum mentioned, breaking a run down into chunks helps too. Good luck with exorcising those gremlins of yours and happy running, Chipshop 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️
Thank you. Yes, I must also resist the temptation to sing out loud 😂
I too find that music helps, focus on the music and the words (words help me) so if I subconsciously sing along then I'm concentrating on something other than the gremlins. Sometimes I write posts for this forum in my head - posts that will never be written, but things like there were two cute ducks on the river, how would I describe that Labrador pup, etc. When you force yourself to work out how you would describe something to someone else then it just makes you concentrate on something else. Lastly memories, in our family we call it tripping over memories - have songs on your playlist for example that trigger memories, (good ones...) and remember that moment, but really try and remember all the details, when was it, what were you wearing, what smells there were, what sounds there were, etc.
At the end of the day, it's all about distraction - if all else fails maths distracts me (what percentage of a run have I done, what fraction, mental arithmetic 
How many seconds left or how many metres left and can I convert that to inches etc.
If I get to halfway, then well, I'm not giving up now I've done over half. I haven't done all that for nothing, etc.
And lastly, my last hope is "I will not quit" said over and over and over again, 4 steps, one word on each foot fall...sheer stubbornness
Wow, some great strategies here
I run with someone who was taught some good techniques for keeping focused. She was doing it on Sunday during our hot and humid run. So she does things like, for the next 5 mins 'I am going to look around and count how many different coloured running vests I can see, or how many people wear red shoes or blue shoes etc.
Im going to try it on my next run when my head tells me Im too tired or my legs tell me they feel like lead. Try it and see how you get on! 😀
That’s a great idea!
That reminds me of taking children on a long car ride - how many blue cars, how many white cars ...
yep, works though!!! 😀🏃♀️🚙🚗
Music, guided runs or audiobooks help me. 😁
I will be following this post…
“The paths too uneven”
“It’s too warm”
“Haven’t got time for any further”
“You can’t breathe”
“You’re so unfit”
“You’ve forgotten how to run for more than 2 minutes so you’ll have to stop”…
The list is endless I know exactly what you mean…it’s so annoying…so if anyone can come up with the answer I’m trying it too…
I posted on almost exactly the same thing a day or two back: just thinking about how weird the brain is! I get the imposter syndrome thing with my writing and it was cropping up with my running. Focusing on the breath, singing to my music, giving enthusiastic greetings to other runners/dog walkers etc, looking at the scenery, counting trees, becoming almost meditative ... whatever works for you. we CAN do this, so I've no idea why our brains suddenly get uppity and try to convince us otherwise! 🤣
Egg head and concussion! 
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