Last year when I ran the Dublin Marathon I slowed down from mile 22.5 and kept getting slower until mile 25, when I increased the pace again. I didn’t get back to my planed race pace, but I did get back to something I was ok with.

So why did I slow down? I remember at the time thinking about slowing for about 3 miles before I slowed. that I just wasn’t able for the pace. and I left my head get to me, so I slowed.

The following link discusses the wall, and while I don’t agree with everything in the article it does discuss the places the mind brings us. http://www.badwater.com/training/bane.html

For me running the Dublin Marathon again in 1 1/2 weeks time I know the mind is going to play tricks on me. I also know the mind is doing this to protect my body. the only problem is my mind warns me too early to slow down and it can impact my ability to race.

When I ran the Charleville 1/2 Marathon my mind left me alone until I left the 1:40 min pacers because I was in my head already at that point.

When I won Stockbridge 1/2 Marathon My mind started at mile 12 as I was increasing my pace to 6:45 min/miles

I know my mind will start at me, I also know that by running through it, it will be better for my body as when I slow down my form gets messed up and I end up in real pain after the race.

This year I’m expecting the mind to put my body in pain and I know I need to tell the mind to leave me alone – I know the pace I’m running at is very possible for me (in fact I even think I could go faster) and I know if I slow down I’ll be in real pain, I appreciate my mind want to protect my body, but it has to trust me and allow me to protect my body – by running what I am capable of doing – so I stay in good form.

So when my mind starts telling me I’m in too much pain to keep the pace going – I’m going to do a check – is my form ok (correct it if it isn’t) is my breathing ok (correct it if it isn’t). this pain will pass, and I know it will pass because it always passes, just sometimes after the race instead of during and then I’m going to keep to the pace (or go faster)