How To!

How To Trick Your Brain Into Running Longer

To run farther and faster, you must first train your mind.

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Episode Notes

Have you ever thought about running but been too intimidated to start? Or maybe you’ve already got an after-work jogging routine and need tips on how to increase your endurance? On this episode of How To!, we reveal the game-changing, unexpected running tips you didn’t know you needed with the help of Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, and Shannon Palus, a Slate senior editor and marathon runner. Our experts say the key to running well isn’t how fast you go or how many times a week you hit the pavement—instead focus on training your mind to push past your limits. In the process you’ll ease your anxiety and build your confidence.

If you liked this episode, check out: “How To Lose 155 Pounds Happily” and “How To Withstand Pain.”

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might have you on the show. Subscribe for free on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen.

Podcast production by Derek John, Rachael Allen, Rosemary Belson and Margaret Kelly.

Further Reading

Working for the Run: How Does an Ultrarunner Do Her Job? by Shannon Palus
Mary Cain’s Chilling Story Highlights Problems That Plague Many Female Runners by Shannon Palus
Why Can’t the NYC Marathon Happen? I Thought We Were Safe Outside! by Shannon Palus
Why Pay to Run a Race at Home? by Shannon Palus

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About the Show

What if Dear Abby were an investigative reporter? Each week, Amanda Ripley and Carvell Wallace take on listeners’ toughest problems and, with the help of experts, find the answers to questions you’ve always wanted to ask but couldn’t. Until now.

Do you have a problem that needs solving? Have you found the advice on our podcast helpful? Send us a note at howto@slate.com or leave us a voicemail at 646-495-4001 and we might play it on the air.

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