The Ultramarathon Runner’s Method for Overcoming Walls Over Long Distances
Long distance running is exhausting your body, but the real battle is in your mind. Here’s a mental trick that an ultramarathon runner used to tackle the toughest moments of running 50 marathons in 50 straight days.
Dean Karnazes , author of Paths to Sparta and Ultramarathon to Man , knows a thing or two about starting. Not only has he run marathons in every state in the United States, he once ran 350 miles in three days without sleep. Here’s how he gets over his toughest moments:
When I run, I don’t think about anything other than the present moment. All I try to do is put one foot in front of the other as much as I can. I just say to myself, “Take the next step, take the next step, take the next step.” I don’t think about anything other than this. It’s almost a Zen-like trance state. If you get there, you can experience a lot. It really takes a lot of mental discipline because it’s not easy to get your head down in this place.
It may sound simple, but that’s the point. Persistence and distance – whether you are running long distances or pursuing some other goal – allows you to focus on the next step, and only the next.
I Run 50 Marathons In 50 Days And I Can’t Even Imagine Slowing Down | Mel Magazine