I spent yesterday’s workout considering how I can go the distances. How others, especially ultra-athletes, can go even more than 26.2. What is it inside of someone who can keep the stamina, not just physically but mentally as well, for that long of a time?

I have written before that distance running is really about training your mind to understand that it can do the distance. Like they say, It’s all in your head.

Your body, if you train it properly (increase in small increments over time, take care of it physically, eat well, rest, stay hydrated) will do what you want it to do. Barring any major injuries or problems from the get go, you can pretty much teach your body to do what you want it to do. Think of yogis that can bend themselves like pretzels. They most likely didn’t just sit down one day and contort. They practiced.

Same with distances. Train your body and it will follow.

What will it follow? What has to follow your body’s lead?

Your mind, of course.

The ultimate trick to distance running is training your mind. It is your mind that will need to stay busy as you run for 26 miles. It is your mind that will say, “I can’t do this,” and tell you to stop. It is your mind that will send in the self doubts just when your chips are the lowest-and it is your mind that will then turn those self-doubt chips into winning chips when you need them.

But you have to train it to do this.

I’ve never minded distances; in fact, I embrace them. I get so excited on Friday nights knowing my distance is coming up on Saturdays that sometimes I have difficulty falling asleep.

I have a pretty specific mind plan when I go out. It’s not that I developed it – or, maybe I did quite some time ago when I began increasing miles.

Basically, the first part of any long run is spent mulling over the issues I am going through in that week. For instance, a tough client; an article I want to write or am writing; the novel I keep putting off composing; a problem with the kids or family. I focus on these things; they drift in, I contemplate them for a bit, they drift out and a new one drifts in. I spend the first part of my long runs just letting problems or ideas or thoughts come in and go out as they will.

At some point, these thoughts stop. I begin to notice things, like the smell of the ocean or the sound of the town as it wakes up. Then, at some point, I turn on some music. This is normally at least halfway through a long run. It creates the perfect diversion. I generally listen to music from then on out.

If you are having a difficult time getting the mindset together to go the distance, here are some things that might help.

First, psyche yourself up. Think like a winner. You have to have the self confidence and the self assurance to get through. If you talk down about your running you will not make it. Instead of saying I hope I can do this, say I can’t wait to finish up to prove I can do it.

Secondly, picture yourself finishing the marathon. I do this on every long run at least once if not several times. I see my family at the finish line. I see them waving and cheering. I see myself crossing that line and shouting in excitement. Sometimes my eyes actually tear up because I know how proud I am going to feel when I finish the race. Picture yourself at the finish line and you WILL be there, if only for a minute at mile 10 of a 20 mile practice run.

Thirdly, distract yourself. I do this with music. I rarely run with music on shorter runs unless I am really tired or feeling like it might be a tough run. Music distracts me. I know if I have the headset on I can go for a while listening to some of my favorite tunes. I have a list of favorite tunes I run to, and this is the only time I listen to them. J Geils sings about love stinking; Everlong blasts in my ear; the Toadies talk about going behind the boathouse. These songs always get me going, and sometimes singing along, as I run.

Fourth, enjoy the sense-sations. I wrote about this the other day in a separate post. I love running outdoors because I love hearing, smelling, seeing and just feeling what is going on around me. From the smell of coffee to the scent of laundry detergent, to the sound of birds, I just love it. Enjoy this part of training. It is what you will remember when the race is all over. I honestly really miss those long, long runs. I can still recall this one particular area that I would run, past the horse trails, hearing the horses, seeing the ocean along the way. I still see these in my head. In fact, when I have to do something I dislike, such as sitting in the dentist’s chair being tortured, I close my eyes and envision those runs.

Fifth, mix it up if you have to. I didn’t with the last training, only because I didn’t have my Garmin yet. Now that I do, my training, the longer runs, will consist of some new treks on Saturdays. Last training I ran the same course the entire time because I had it mapped out. So I always saw the same things. By the end of the training I was growing restless and bored. Now that I have my Garmin I will tackle a new training trail, starting tomorrow. I haphazardly mapped out one trail that leads to an area I have been wanting to run, so tomorrow I’ll head that way. I’ll do the first 5 out and then backtrack the next five.

Lastly, make it fun. Running should be something that you enjoy. I hear people say that running is boring or hard and I think, Why? Make it fun. Explore new routes. Stop and pick up donuts on the way home. I often stop at the ocean for a few minutes and just enjoy the peaceful scenery. One blogger that i just started reading takes a camera on her marathon runs and stops and takes snapshots (actually, I don’t even think that she stops!) You don’t have to run the entire time. Stop to enjoy what is out there in life.