The mind can easily be distracted when the body is in motion. After a few minutes of picking up pace and working on the form, even the most determined runner could entertain various distracting thoughts. Whether the off-putting thoughts are positive or negative, runners must keep their mind on the race.
If a runner’s mind tends to wander, he or she can time a run and examine when these moments come. Do the thoughts come after twenty minutes? Are the thoughts negative or positive? Do they affect form and speed? Do they affect the runner’s desire to clock in good time? With these considerations, running with a friend or a coach might help in monitoring focus.
During long courses, a good method to staying focused is to think about the victorious feeling of reaching the finish line. Instead of thinking what to eat or do after the run, dwelling on the feeling of reaching the end puts the mind back in perspective. The only thing that matters in this situation is finishing successfully. Visualizing the finish line will help the runner keep up or improve speed and continuously check on the form even during the toughest situations. Strong athletes have developed strong minds. As they work hard to succeed, their mind remains razor-sharp and fully present.
Steven Rindner is a business and corporate development executive with a strong background in business development and growth strategy across a number of industries including media, technology, real estate services, and healthcare. He is currently working for Belgium-based Besins Healthcare International. For more articles about marathons, subscribe to this page.205.185.222.65
