What Marathoners (and Badminton Players) Think About

outsideonline.com/2421215/w...

Well, today's effort I was mostly thinking, cross-training is all well and good but it does seem to knock the edge off your running. What about you?

[misswobble Marathon]

I must say I’d rather just run 🙂

[Decker Ultramarathon]

Good article. Yeah the short self pep talks only go so far, but they do help at times. My mind wanders all over the map on a long run. Music helps sometimes, but getting really quiet mentally is harder than it seems.

[Hidden in reply to Decker]

I thought a lot of the negative thoughts attributed to runners are the ones we put on ourselves when working towards a challenge rather than just using a run to unwind or clear our heads. When you have to rather than because I want to. Interesting none the less.

[Decker Ultramarathon in reply to Hidden]

I agree, as soon as it becomes a chore then some of the joy slips away. But it needs to be a chore to reach certain goals so there is a balance. All work and no play as they say

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Really interesting article - and very reflective of many of my thoughts! If it’s just a normal everyday run ( as opposed to an organised event) rather than thinking about what I’m going to do later in the day, I tend to find myself processing my day at work and doing my mental filing!🤯...🤔...🙄...😌!

As for your comment on cross-training - I don’t do enough and when I do, I find the same!🙂

[CBDB]

That article really made me think, so thank you!

I’m just on the the Bridge magic plan, so still newbie long distance runner, but I realised when reading that I actually don’t talk to myself internally.

I run with music and zombies run app, so listening to stories. I am also an ultra-slow Niko-Niko type of runner. But running to the beat of the music is a big thing for me.

But I realise that my delight in running this way, that comes actually from a meditative-like switching off, and focussing only on rhythms, music and beautiful surroundings.

Yes, especially when I’m tired I might focus on form, elbows, posture, head but not really telling myself something. Rather just dipping into a “form correction” and the continuing with my meditative rhythmic run.

It works for me, and as I am extending slowly distance rather than trying to attain speed it’s perfect.

But really fascinating to read!

[misswobble Marathon]

I love the meditative, zoned out runs, following the drum beat of Led Zep or some such. You can be running seemingly for ages before “coming to” 😁On the trail of course 😁

Gorgeous slow running. Delicious 🙂