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! Thank You InsideTracker! This episode is brought to you by InsideTracker , one of the most reputable blood testing companies in the world. They were founded in 2009 by aging, genetics, and biometrics scientists to help you analyze your body's data and get a firm idea of how well you're responding to training. Understanding your body's biomarkers, from stress hormones to testosterone to Vitamin D, can help you figure out if you're over-training, under-training, optimally training, or if you have a health issue that might be affecting your running. But the best part is that they give you personalized optimal ranges for each of these biomarkers and a host of ways to improve these markers through diet, lifestyle, or exercise changes. I've personally gotten three Ultimate tests from them and the process is simple, easy, and very eye-opening if you haven't done a deep dive on your biomarkers yet. Of all the investments you can make in your running, this one is like getting a detailed checkup or regularly scheduled maintenance for your internal physiology. If you're ready to take control of your health and optimize your training, get 25% off any of their blood tests with code STRENGTHRUNNING at InsideTracker . Thank You Athletic Greens! Thank you to our sponsor, Athletic Greens ! They are a health and wellness company that makes AG1. This is a category-leading greens mix that has 75 vitamins and minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and adaptogens. One scoop per day is what I've been doing to help me fill in any nutrition gaps in my diet. It also provide a nice boost of energy and focus throughout the day. With all 3 of my kids in school, I know I need to support my immune system or else I'm getting sick and can't train. I also love that AG1 has changed over the last decade. Athletic Greens has made 53 improvements to the formula based on the latest research to make these nutrients more absorbable. For our listeners, they are offering a year's worth of free Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs of AG1 with your first purchase. You can sign up for single shipment or for a monthly drop - the choice is yours. Check out Athletic Greens to redeem your offer today.