Deep Thoughts Of A Marathon Runner?

Question

I am training for a marathon but have previously only done 5k or so. Since the ban on headphones I was looking for advice on what to meditate on while on the long journey. I was wondering what more seasoned marathon runners keep in their head to keep them going. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

haha when I run I usually sing songs in my head.... or I just think about what I want to do when I finish the race for I can hurry up and get it over with ( not that I hate it) but you get it =P

Answer 2

You can wear the headphones, I know in the waiver form it says no headphones.  Trust me when I say I've never had a problem wearing them........and I've won a fair amount of races.  The reason for the no headphones rule is safety,  I don't have mine blaring loud and I'm very aware of surroundings.....if you were beside me and started talking I can hear U.  You should be able to wear them...but it's your choice.  Hope this helped.

Answer 3

In training work on developing:

1) form cues that help you run better; and

2) sensitivity to different levels of exertion and how these effect your speed and endurance.

"Zoning out" in any way, whether aided by an MP3 player or not, leads to unaware training and ineffective racing.

Runners at the top of any echelon pay exquisite attention to their running, and nothing else, when they run.

Answer 4

I've never run a full but I've run halfs and I usually am too preoccupied on racing the people I'm with to think about a song.

So I'm sure you will find an automatic alternative during the race.

Good luck

Answer 5

Do your training without headphones, whatever falls into your head is good.  Think about work, the people around you, anything.  I run only trails so it's usually watch the rock, watch the roots, duck the tree branch, oh look a deer.  It's all good.

Answer 6

I train with Headphones on but have run races without them.  Once you get going I actually find headphones can be a bigger distraction when you are focusing on a run.  When running your marathon, you will find that unless you are an elite runner it is as much a social event as it is a running event.

Many events offer pace bunnies who help folks meet there time goals, they often have many runners running with them as a group and there is a lot of chatting going on.  Even if there is no talking, just the fact that you are running beside someone can help.

So I would not worry about what you will be doing during the race.  I have often run great races without my headphones on.  In fact the best races are the races that I don’t remember the middle bits.  But yes I do typically remember the last 8K of the marathon but at that point the struggle is between your mind and your body.  Often referred to as the “Wall”.

Good luck

Harry

Answer 7

Well, first of all, most of the time there's no penalty for using headphones.  They just discourage it.  That being said, I've done a couple races where they actually penalize you for using headphones and I've had to go without them.  

To keep my mind occupied, I try to do math problems in my head.  I know, nerdy!  But, I'll calculate my average pace based on splits.  I'll calculate at what point I will catch someone on a circular course who started behind me and runs a certain pace.  I know it sounds silly, but the miles just fly by.