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 😊

I listen to “marathon talk” podcast. Some training advice, lots of inspirational interviews and some chat/laughs.

There’s a new parkrun podcast now too I believe.

Oh really?! Off to hunt

I think about..anything and everything. How much I love the songs on my playlist. I’ve tried podcasts but struggled with the sound quality.

Recently I’ve started doing Niko Niko running YouTube video here I’m a lot slower but it’s far more enjoyable!

Thankyou @museumum downloaded both and will listen on my commute tomorrow (yes Sunday - boo)

Niko Niko convert here too.

Struggled on and off with c25k and running too fast, losing heart, stopping and then starting back at week 1 agsin..... In a week of slow jogging I've gone from nothing to slow jogging 95% of my 3.7km route.

And I love it.

For long runs, i often listen to podcasts. Running Commentary, mentioned up thread, is one of my favorites. It's worth listening to their old episodes. Their run with Lisa Jackson stopped me giving up running and i re-committed to marathon training i had basically given up on. Also the episode with Vassos Alexander is super inspiring.

Sometimes i have podcasts on but just tune out and think my own thoughts, but it's just there in background.

Making a play list the night before you go running is a great way to get excited about the next day's run.

I listen to music (though bone-conducting wireless Trekz Titanium, if anyone's interested) and find that upbeat stuff can keep me moving.

I try to think about my body and how it's moving - from the feel of the ground under my feet upwards. But the mind wanders and it can be anything and everything - it's a great time to think round things (I always assumed other people did this too, and it was one of the reasons that running is meant to be good for your mental health)

. And then of course you can always take it back to the body when the thoughts get complicated. Or when some part of the body calls for attention.

Or just really looking at what you are passing. I find this easier in unfamiliar places, but writing about it now has made me think and perhaps I should do move of that locally.

I start with the problems. Mull over them for 1 mile. Then I go onto solutions/acceptance/plans for another mile. Then I go onto enjoying the present, the light, the leaves, my body moving etc. Then I go onto a mile of fantasy, all sorts of scenarios. The last mile is being kind to myself. I think of all the nice things I’m doing for myself, what I’m grateful for etc.

Sometimes I have ‘anger management’ runs, when I put Prodigy or similar on and just run to exhaustion, breathing through my anger. These are short but very fast (for me) and followed by a long bath.

I know what you mean, 8FencingWire about an 'anger management run'

Not exactly anger, but I had some really crappy news during a really bad patch, and I loaded up a heavy metal playlist and ran until I dropped.

I really do enjoy running, I listen to podcasts and generally try to absorb my environment. I run v rurally so often have beautiful views.
A few weeks ago I saw my very first hare (they are v scarce here) and that was kind of exciting!

I ran London this year without headphones and I honestly cannot tell you what went through my head for over 5 hours - I totally zoned out in places (survival mode??) .

liney I love running commentary - it’s like running with friends but without all the stress of actually running with friends if you see what I mean? And unlike audio books you can tune in and out a bit if your mind wanders elsewhere. Did a 9 mike run to it the other day

Headphones - I love my plantronics backbeat - pricey but worth it. I have weird shape ears and can’t use earbud type ones but never had any problem keeping these in.

Oh and what’s on my mind other than the podcast - sometimes it’s how slow I am and why don’t I ever get quicker but more often I really do feel gratitude that I have the health to be able to run, and how lucky I am to have lovely places nearby to do it. I think that’s from coming to running quite late and being super conscious that at some point I may not be able to do it any more if something happens health-wise to stop me.

I tried to listen to the My Dad Wrote a Porno podcast whilst running and couldn't because I kept laughing too much!

I listened to running commentary for the first time today and I loved it, thanks to those on the thread that have recommended it!

I think about all sorts - daydreams, wishes for the future, fantasy life, what I'm eating when I get back, replaying conversations, mulling over problems. Anything and everything really. I find if I concentrate too much on the actual running I start hating it and wanting to stop.

Have you read „What I talk about when I talk about running„ by Haruki Murakami? I keep going back to that book.

Whatever you think about you are not alone.

I listen to music, and like to pretend I’m singing at Wembley to a crowd of thousands. Or I’ll listen to something like the Les Mis soundtrack and pretend I’m on a West-end stage. If no-one’s coming towards me I’ll also mouth the words

Sometimes I like to pretend it’s the last-mile of the marathon in the Olympics and I’m in the lead & it’s being televised around the world.

So basically I have delusions of grandeur