Negative thoughts during long runs

Is it sane to run 10 miles?  I don't think so.  I just let my mind wander, check out the scenery, listen to some good tunes and try to run at sunrise.  My 220 pound body does feel heavey after 10 miles but thats why I am trying to make it a 215 pound body.  Best of luck.

oh yeah, do the 13.1!

Which March marathon? (I'm doing National in D.C. on March 22)

Anyhow, I do a few things:

1. Get lost in an audiobook
2. Smile ... it actually makes you feel happier -- it does look a little goofy, but no goofier than running 15 mi in the middle of the winter
3. Think about how awesome you are.

... and no, you are not the only one who questions one's own sanity during a workout.

I daydream ALOT! No, I'm not singing to myself, I'm talking to myself! I find it works best when your t'd off at your husband or mother-in-law, or have an upcoming interview! Or plan out what I have to do for the day/upcoming week.

Other things I do is switch up my routes, try to do loops rather than out and backs, think about how good I'll feel when it's done or even what "goody" I can have that day and not feel guilty about it!

Mike,

 Some ideas that help me:

 Music -- over-ride the thoughts with tunes.

 Start slower -- the head noise could be fatigue from a rapid start

 Run-Walk -- well documented in the dbase on the site // breaks the run into bite sized chunks.  Much easier to run 10x 1 mile than 10 miles.

 Consider racing shorter -- you'll learn a lot racing the half.  You're hardly looking at twice the fun from 26.2 miles.  When you are super keen on the full then you can come back to the distance.

 Did you see this YouTube clip?  Touches on why to keep going...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocM4ztqhIgA

g

"To attempt an understanding of Muad'Dib without understanding his mortal enemies ... is to attempt seeing Truth without knowing Falsehood. It is the attempt to see the Light without knowing Darkness. It cannot be."

Translation:  Knock yourself out.  Bonk.  Hit the wall.  Push the pace and fail.  Once you do, life is easier.

Mental training is pretty important.  I used to be in the last 10K of a marathon, often feeling like crap and would ask myself the same questions.  I got the book "Running Within" and it helped a lot.  It is all about how to mentally approach training and racing.  While corny, I created several mantras and then found the one that worked best for me during training.  I use it all the time in races when things get tough.   

I am sure there are other books to consider, but this one worked for me.

I don't know your height but if you feel and know that you are too heavy, better thinking on shorter mileage/week, loosing weight and avoid any injury.

The injury can lead you to a worse situation where you can not run, gaining weight, demotivation, etc.

Focus on your weight instead of thinking to the 42k: then you will have all the chances you want to run 42k race.

Marathons can easily bring you to an injury, more than people think...especially during the preparation period.

You need to know your reason for doing it. It needs to be a big enough reason that when things get tough that reason keeps you going. Make a list of reasons and see if one stands out as the ONE reason you signed up for this Mary.

I recall when I was heavy into IM training when I'd get my new training plan for next 4 weeks I'd often think I'm supposed to do that? How can I do it. It was always my mind that doubted. When I got to that workout and did it my body gladly went along...not that it was easy mind you.

I always try to focus on right now not the past not the future. Only control I have is on the present. Don't count down miles, just run the best you can right now...take in your hyrdration and nutrition and enjoy your time out there.

Looking at the total of what you have to do can be overwhelming and take the joy out of what you are actually doing with your body...running.

I'd suggest reading the book "The Triathlete's Guide to Mental Training" by Taylor and Schneider to help.

If you don't have a real good reason to do the race, you won't find motivation to train. Look for your reason.

In my IM training I did 4 19+ mile runs...it was quite painful towards the end of the first one and the thought I needed to run another step seemed daunting, but the 4th one I did 21 miles instead of 20 scheduled and felt pretty good knowing that I could run farther.  It is quite amazing to watch our bodies adapt as we go longer and longer. I likened it to watching my body adapt as a science project.

Know your reason...then you will run...stay moment focused and do your best now.

Outside of positive thoughts....check you nutrition.  Seriously.  This summer when training for the Chicago Marathon I also had negative thoughts after 12 miles or so.  I tried speeding up, talking with people, changing music, and remembering that my body moved for a heck of a lot longer during my HIMs...but nada.

Success from the bad thoughts finally came when I did a better job of monitoring my gel/gu /supplement intake.  My blood sugar was spiking then dropping cause I was not taking gus/gatorade/etc at proper intervals for my body.  I figured this out after the 15 mile run when thinking about nutrition. After that point, whenever I started to have negative thoughts, I would have some sugar via gatorade/gels/powerblocks/candy and it helped tremendously!  I ran the marathon with positive thoughts throughout....ok, maybe the last 2 miles a few negative ones creeped in  But I still stayed focused and remembered the end goal.

Best of luck at the marathon!!!!

your definitely not alone on this!  I find myself constantly questioning myself, especially on long runs. 

The suggestion someone maid to eat is a good one.  Gel, banana, something....that can pick up your spirits big time.

Sometimes when your're 2 hours in, it becomes a game of "How much longer do I have?"  Than you realize another hour, or 5 more miles, and that can be mentally devestating.  When this happens to me, I focus on the next step.  The next light pole or phone tower.  Something short off in the distance to get your mind on how much further you have to go.  

Focus on pick up your cadence.  count your cadence for 30 seconds...anything to get your mind off how much further you have to run....

At least for me, focusing on the little things will get you throgh the long runs!

x2.  This works really well for me, not only during moments of doubt, but also when I'm plain not feeling very strong.