Marathon training -Advice on the mental push through.....

Some things that helped me:

1. Break the distance down to smaller portions and concentrate on those. Like concentrate on just 4 mile sections in your head then move on as you progress. It is really defeating to think, well, I've got 16 more miles to go. Instead think, I've got 2 more miles to go in this section. Then move on.

2. If you are a analytic person like I am then read this:

http://www.irunfar.com/2013/06/peak-performance-and-the-selfish-brain-the-central-governor-and-its-role-in-100-mile-performance.html#.UbdMzR3YxFA.twitter

3. Great advice from other runners on here that helped me: Never introduce negative words into your thought process even with well intentions. Like don't say "I am NOT going to stop." Instead say "I CAN keep going." When you get mentally exhausted then any negative word you use in any context can more readily be changed in your head.

I am not going to stop.
I am not going to stop.
I am not.
I am not going to be able to do this.

This was a serious mind blown moment when I practiced this and found it to be true.

Music helps me a lot. You might leave it off until you start getting those twinges of doubt and then start turning it on. It might drown out those inner nagging voices too.

Training for a marathon is about training both mentally and physically. You have to learn to deal with the negative thoughts - we all have them. Some people use mantras. When you start having the negative thoughts, repeat a mantra. I had a running coach who used to use "Pain is temporary, pride is forever" or "Finding comfort in discomfort" and there are others out there.

If you are running 22 miles, you are nearly at the end of your training. Don't derail yourself now. You are so close! If your 22 mile run is bad and painful just know that you got it done and the next time you do 22 or the race it will be easier. During the training run, work on ways to keep your mind occupied. When is your next food or water? If the distance seems too long, just get the next mile (or km) done or get to the next landmark. You can do it. Slow and steady and eat and drink properly and you will get it done. Trust in your training to get you through. Picture finishing the race.

Have fun! There's nothing like that finish line at your first marathon.

Things that have always helped me:
1) embrace the suck - acknowledge that you will be out there for some time, then stop worrying about what you have to do after, or concentrating on how loooooong the run seems. Just say "yup, I'm going to be here for a while, and its not going to pleasant the whole time". I find if I can mentally accept that, i relax a lot. Then I start looking at the trees, or sky or whatever, and begin to enjoy being outside. The more I fight the fact that I am running 20, 25, 30 miles, the more unpleasant the experience.

2) Break the run up into smaller, manageable chunks. If you know your route, think of it as 4 or 5 sections, and then just concentrate on running the section you are in. This also mentally helps because you can think "oh, I'm in section 3 already! Over halfway done!".

3) If you feel bad, give it time. Tell yourself that you'll just hang on another 20 minutes. Usually that is long enough to rebound and start feeling better. Lie to your brain. Say "If I feel like crap in 20 minutes, I can quit". Your brain will believe you and start to feel better. Or your brain will believe you and you don't feel better, but then you keep going anyway and lie again "ok, another 10 minutes". It took practice, but I can game my stupid, gullible brain this way for a long time.