When running what do you feel/think about?

[Boringusername444]

I do really love running, especially the high when you’ve done it. But during running I feel like I’m constantly on a battle to breathe properly and mentally getting myself through the Miles.
Like, “oh my god 2 Miles left I’m never gonna do this, if I wasn’t in a group I would so be walking right now”.

And it makes me wonder. Are some of you like that? Or are you loving every minute? Are you thinking about what you’re having for dinner or what you will do at the weekend?

I’m still new to running so I talk to me, tell me everything about how you feel, think, get on with it, mentally prepare yourself etc.
If you don’t mind of course.

Thank you 😊

@bluetrampolines it's like having children. You sort of forget the bad bits

Oh god I love these replies.
I’m not the only one.
But also I really need to get around to getting a good playlist and some ear phones that don’t hurt my ears.

@Boringusername444 what about bone conducting headphones? They sit outside your ears(on cheekbones) meaning you can still hear hazards like traffic but music/pod casts are clear. Weird but true!

Think about maths!

When can I stop? Should I check my watch yet or will it not be long enough since I last checked and demoralise me? This song must be a 5 minute long one maybe I’ll check after that. I hope I don’t see anyone I know. Why do I live in a place with so many hills? Oh great someone overtaking me; I’m so slow. Can I just stop and lie down?

Actually, there's also a lot of rural road stress about whether there's a car about to mow me down/tractor in road based hedge diving.

Then 'oh bollocks i hate these hills, they go on for EVER'

A lot of admiring nature.

And in between all that, gin and cake. But j don't run far. Or fast. I potter about in the country lanes, Japanese slow jogging style, whilst wondering when I'm going to be thin....which considering the gin/cake thing is never

Seems I do Japanese slow jogging! Never heard of it before though.

I jog slowly. Some days I am
Higher energy and go a bit faster.

I prefer audio books for jogging. Sometimes music. Sometimes I just repeat "can I stop yet?" Over and over.

Some very funny replies, thank you.

And I will look into those bone conducting head phones and some podcasts or audio books.

On my run tomorrow I am going to try extra hard to not think about how hard it is and how long until I get to stop

I listen to podcasts and sometimes my mind goes for a wander - yesterday I was imagining the podcast host interviewing me about my running! If I had to run without headphones, in a race at, I try just to look around and enjoy the experience. Now I have bone conducting headphones I can always have my podcasts plus talk to other people so that's win win!

@NotARegularPenguin I hope you don't have the same PT as I do 🙈

. Mine is very easy on the eye.

Could someone recommend good headphones for running please?

I think about wanting to stop with bursts of feeling like a superhero. Going to try an audiobook after reading this!

Love running in my own so I can daydream, or plan stuff for work. But- I also love running with someone- chatting make the miles fly by!

I listen to music though audio books sound like a good idea. I spend most of the first k thinking about how I can't actually do this, then I get distracted by views or a song & my brain wanders off, then the next I notice, I'm halfway.

If I run outside I think of all sorts of stuff, my mind just wanders. I do intervals of focussed technique/speed work and then relax back into the zone. Decent music helps. I just do a Spotify playlist and just throw loads of random stuff on there. I have only been running 6 months but I have a pretty high level of fitness, amazingly, so I can do 10km pretty easily now. Sometimes I need to give myself a pep talk about how hard I’ve worked etc. I use Fitbit tracking so I get little chimes about how far/fast I’m going, and I like to focus on maintaining my pace.

On the treadmill I get so bored. It’s soul destroying. I count the seconds. I do weird ‘treadmill maths’ such as: if I run at 11km an hour, how long to run 1km? How many km at that speed to the end of this song? How far in 1 minute? I am rubbish at maths, particularly mental arithmetic so I end up getting all antsy as I can’t work the
Sums out.

@NotARegularPenguin as is mine but I am actually seeing him 😆

When I just started or returning from injury all I can think about is ‘how long til it’s over/how did I ever think this was fun/I am going to die’ etc.

Now I’ve been back for a while I think off all sorts of different things. The beautiful scenery/wildlife. The conversation I’m having with someone next to me if in a group. How nice the feeling is when you get to the top of the hill, carry on running and your legs get back to normal. Feeling as if I’m flying. How calming the pad pad pad sound of feet on path is. Or alternatively, how much I need the loo right now or how sore my feet are.

I count to 8 over and over and over again! No idea why but it helps pass the time.

I do weird ‘treadmill maths’ such as: if I run at 11km an hour, how long to run 1km?

I do fractions when I'm running sometimes. "If I'm aiming for 11km, when will I hit three quarters? Two thirds? Seven tenths?"

Going for 12km tomorrow so the calculations will be a lot faster!

'I do weird ‘treadmill maths'

Me too!

I always run on my own. Headphones and some music. I weirdly like to listen to the same song on repeat for about 20 minutes and just sing along to it. I also tend to change direction when I start to get tired. As a direct result I run all over the place, but I find this works.

I've never run with a group, just little old me :)

Experienced runner here.

No music. Just thinking.
I run very early so peaceful and my routes involve beautiful scenery.

I think practical stuff.... what I need to get for grocery shop etc, I work through any emotional stuff bothering me, I problem solve.

It’s bloody brilliant. Like a form of counselling.

I'm just plscemarking because I LOVE this thread and I need to read it later

I did parkrun today and instead of listening to music, I listened to 'running commentary' - podcast by Rob Deering and Paul Tompkinson. Felt like running with mates but didn't have to chat and get out of breath
They chat whilst running and record it. Very gentle. Mostly about running, but other comedy stuff too

Got a decent time, so I'll do that again.