Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder.

Their are two types of pain in running in my opinion, one is physical and the other is mental. Any running regiment or training program will teach you to gradually build up your miles and to listen to your body. I do believe in this philosophy because it does build patience and teaches discipline in running in which you will need to grow and it will take you a long way into your running career. Sometimes running hurts. It can hurt physically if you don't listen to your body, rest when you are injured and keep your shoes on a good rotation. But if you do all these things right you'll move right along and experience the mental pain of running. The part where you'll be tested mentally constantly. You have to be able to block out everything in your mind and focus on the run at hand. The moment and make the best of it. I always say to myself "this is my run, i'm going to run hard". Little things like that you tell yourself to build your confidence. You have to discover what is inside of you when you run. You are going to hit walls no matter how skilled you are. But I find that consistency is the best formula. Keep at it, make it a routine and your life. Everything else will follow. Follow the pain and make it work for you not against you. Because it is inside of you and that is what drives you.

Some may ask why I am running such long distances. There are reasons. During the marathons and my runs I come to a point where my body is almost dead. My mind has to take leadership. When it is very hard there is a war going on between the body and the mind. If my body wins, I will have to give up; if my mind wins, I will continue. At that time I feel that I stay outside of my body. It is as if I see my body in front of me; my mind commands and my body follows. This is a very special feeling, which I like very much. . . It is a very beautiful feeling and the only time I experience my personality separate from my body, as two different things. To me what this what running is about and crosses into all areas of my life.