Buzz
When I’m pushing through a run, I avoid thinking about reaching the halfway point. The thought of repeating everything I’ve already done feels discouraging. Instead, I reframe my mindset. The first mile is simply a warmup, and the final mile feels like a victory lap—if I only have one mile left, I know I can make it no matter how tired I am. That leaves the middle portion as the real challenge, and suddenly, a five-mile run feels like just three miles. Three miles? That’s a breeze!
Choosing familiar routes makes a difference. By the time I complete the second mile of my five-mile run, I know the water fountain is just ahead at the base of the next hill. Once I reach the fountain, I’m close to the corner where I make a left turn. The following mile is smooth and flat, and once I finish that, I’m on the final stretch, ready to finish strong.
If you’re doing exercise sets or interval training, the mental game shifts. I once read an interview with a famous runner (I can’t recall their name) who mentioned that the toughest interval is always the second-to-last one. On the final interval, you can give it your all without holding back. Since then, I’ve stopped counting intervals until I’m nearly done. Instead, I tell myself, 'Just two more, then the challenging one, and finally, the easy one.'
Timed workouts can be more challenging. If you’re aiming to spend 30 minutes on an exercise bike, having someone like a Peloton instructor to guide you can make a big difference—encouraging you to push harder during the chorus of a song and ease up during the verses. Recently, I was cycling indoors and didn’t feel like following a guided session. However, I wanted to complete 40 minutes, which felt like a long stretch. To stay motivated, I started setting small rewards every five minutes, like stepping off the bike to do pushups or jogging in place for 30 seconds while the timer kept running.
I’m not alone in using these mental tricks. Jordan Calhoun, our deputy editor, shared that he uses a similar approach with his phone during rest periods: “After completing x sets, I can check Instagram,” he says, or “After x songs, I’ll reply to that text.” I also found this creative idea of using physical tokens to track sets fascinating:
Now, I’m curious: what mental strategies do you use? How do you make a lengthy workout feel shorter or convince yourself that a short workout is almost done?
