242. Dr. Noel Brick on How to Think When Running Gets Difficult

Dr. Noel Brick is a lecturer and researcher in sport and exercise physiology who focuses on attentional focus and cognitive strategies in endurance performance.

You’re likely to know an athlete he has had an impact on: marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge. Kipchoge is known for his serene smile in the most grueling moments of the marathon, a technique to reduce the perception of effort that Dr. Brick discovered.

Noel is the co-author of The Genius of Athletes has run more than 30 marathons and ultra-marathons, including the Marathon des Sables and the Irish 24-hour Championships.

We discuss:

• The differences in thinking between competitive and recreational runners
• The pros and cons of racing with a GPS watch
• Why using a pacesetter in a race may benefit you
• The value of self-talk and using the strategy of “chunking”
• The importance of developing a personalized toolkit with a range of strategies

Links & Resources from the Show:

• Read Dr. Brick's book, The Genius of Athletes
• Read more about developing your mental skills
• Learn about our Mindset Mastery program
• Build the 5 core mental skills!

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