Running Out Of Memory

Diane Van Deren While the idea of running a marathon seems life-changing in a “bucket list” kind of way, the drudgery of a serious training plan can generate some second thoughts. Even though the details of the weekday workouts vary, the one staple of most plans is the weekend “long run.” Consisting of progressively more miles as race day nears, these runs of 15+ miles train not only the legs and heart but also the brain. Breaking through mental barriers and learning how to deal with fatigue helps the marathoner talk back to his or her body and helps them get over the inevitable psychological wall during the race. In fact, our brains can offer us too much information during those hours on the road. Knowing that you just started mile three of an 18 mile training run can be just as difficult as approaching mile 15 exhausted but having to dig deep for three more. What if you could turn your brain off and just deal with the current moment; no looking back or forwa...