One of the most common pieces of advice that I hear newbie runners tell each other is to ‘zone out’ while on a run. Be it through music or simply letting go of your thoughts, as long as you’re not thinking about the fact that you’re running, they say, then you’re better off.
That’s bad advice. Our brain uses two operating systems to manage running – the ancient, subconscious part (a.k.a. the reflex brain, located in the brain stem), and our much smaller, conscious section (the prefrontal cortex, housed in the frontal lobe). When we run zoned out, the reflex brain takes over, and stress builds from exertion, heat, even starting too fast. That stress can trigger a surge in cortisol, which lowers motivation to keep going. The higher the…