Anonymous wrote:I've been trail running, and it totally changes things because I actually have to think about the trail - that rock there, that patch of mud looks slippery, quick step over the log bridge, etc. So much concentration into the terrain that I forget to think about how much I HATE RUNNING.

Yes, I think running on dirt trails is really helpful too. When I run on the paved trail, with mile markers, I'm much more focused on my speed, and the pain!

I've been trail running, and it totally changes things because I actually have to think about the trail - that rock there, that patch of mud looks slippery, quick step over the log bridge, etc. So much concentration into the terrain that I forget to think about how much I HATE RUNNING.

On long runs especially, I just zone in and out. You have to. If you are in the moment and totally aware of your breathing and each step the entire time, it's going to be a long run.

My best runs are along a river or around a lake or some other scenic locale. Watching the sun rise or set is another plus. You spend so much time marvelling at the beauty that you forget you are running.

first mile is the worst, and like others have said once I get through that, I can relax let the music take me away. I think about everything and nothing at the same time, if that makes any sense. It's my only time that is truly mine all day and I've come to cherish it.

Similar to PP, when I feel like stopping, I try to decide, is it that I am in actual physical pain or out of breath or just being lazy....99% of the time, if I can control my breathing, I can push through the discomfort. It's mental almost all of the time for me. By mile 4, I feel amazing.

I am training for my first marathon and it's really changing the way I think about running. I've had a love/hate relationship with it for a while.

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed by the numbers (of the miles I am going to go), but I just focus on one step at a time, just NOT walking no matter what.

I read some book from the library called Marathon Running for Non-Runners and it talked about pain, and recognizing it, so that is a new tactic for me. When I feel pain, I "welcome" it. Cheesy, but it works for me ("Hi, there you toes, huh, thanks for joining me today on this run, I know it hurts but we'll get through this.")

I think a lot about life in general. What I want to do to my house (remodeling projects, gardening). Plans for my career. Trips I want to take with my family or trips I have taken. I look at the scenery.

Anonymous wrote:I do math problems.

I do that too! But, badly, so I spend a lot of time coming up with different answers to the same problems.

How I'll spend my eventual lottery winnings.....

Whatever pops into my head. No different from a walk.

Friendships, daily tasks, where is the next mile marker, what I'm making for dinner, is someone hiding in the bushes, should I make eye contact and say hello to a fellow runner...

I hate, hate, hate to run and it's a major effort to even get in 1 mile.

I actually have concocted a whole fantasy life I think about and envision - basically I imagine that I married my high school boyfriend and what our life would have been like. Totally weird but itt gets me through.

I'm five months postpartum with my second, so lately my first thought is how I can feel my back fat jiggle (I usually have a small waist). Then I get into it and forget about that, start thinking about a race I have coming up, or how much longer I'll go for. I usually run pushing my toddler in the jogging stroller, so most of the time I'm talking with her since she talks all. the. time. (Love her to pieces, but it's true) So, lots of discussion about snacks, the horses we're going to run by, milk, more snacks, and can we press the arrow while waiting to cross the street.

Lately, when she sees a Prius (which we have), she desperately bellows, "LIKE OUR CAR!!!" I went for a long run without her on Sunday, and of course at the first Prius that's all I could think of.

A lot of times I'll break the run into segments; I rowed competitively for years, and still naturally break things into 500m segments. So, a quarter of the way through a run, I think, first 500 down, then the next, etc. If I have my Garmin on, I try to guess what my pace is before it tells me. On my last run, I thought, it would be less than 80 minutes, and I was in labor longer than that, so it can't be that bad. Ha!

Anonymous wrote:

Mile 1- I hate this, why do I do this, this sucks, I am turning around

Mile2- ok first mile is over, I'll go just a little longer

Mile 3- start shaking off work yuck, looking around, etc.

Mile 4-5 this feels great, suck it work, the sun is shining, wine tonight?, etc.


This was my run today at lunch

That sounds like me!

Mile 1: Ugg - why is this so painful? This is not going to be a good run. I am sooo slow.
Mile 2: Well, at least I'm going to make it two miles. That's better than nothing, right?
Mile 3: Guess I'll go a little further. What should I do about that work problem? I wonder if we can swing a vacation in August. Should I switch jobs?
Mile 4: Man, I love having this trail by myhouse. The woods are so pretty. It's so nice to be able to get out here and run. Maybe I should sign up for that race next month. I bet I could do a 10K. Maybe I'll go for awhile longer….

What is that off to my right? Was that a person? Why would a guy be hiking in the woods at this hour? Oh well, I love this deserted trail it's so AAAAAGGGGGGHHHHH

Mile 1- I hate this, why do I do this, this sucks, I am turning around

Mile2- ok first mile is over, I'll go just a little longer

Mile 3- start shaking off work yuck, looking around, etc.

Mile 4-5 this feels great, suck it work, the sun is shining, wine tonight?, etc.


This was my run today at lunch

That sounds like me!

Mile 1: Ugg - why is this so painful? This is not going to be a good run. I am sooo slow.
Mile 2: Well, at least I'm going to make it two miles. That's better than nothing, right?
Mile 3: Guess I'll go a little further. What should I do about that work problem? I wonder if we can swing a vacation in August. Should I switch jobs?
Mile 4: Man, I love having this trail by myhouse. The woods are so pretty. It's so nice to be able to get out here and run. Maybe I should sign up for that race next month. I bet I could do a 10K. Maybe I'll go for awhile longer....

Today I thought about "why is it snowing? Why won't winter stop?"

I think about how bored I am, how at least 60 seconds MUST have passed since I last checked, glance down at the treadmill and see like only 6 seconds have passed, wonder if people are listening to my heavy panting, look at myself in the mirror and think, "Holy hell, I look so fat," glance up at the TVs for a second, glance back down at the treadmill to see how many seconds have passed, etc.