Mental Toughness

The phrase "mental toughness" is tossed around frequently when the subject of distance running comes up, and from what I've gathered, it seems that many non-runners misconceive the ways in which cognitive fortitude manifests itself in one's running life. During a race, rarely have been in a state of utter fatigue and suffering, often because I have adhered to a training program designed to get me to the finish line comfortably. At that point the battle is really not mental--it's merely a matter of executing a plan for which I've been practicing for several months. The true mental struggle comes in the preparation. The act of being steady and disciplined in training is a major challenge--it has been for me, and I expect that it is for others. In contrast to race day, where waking up early is simple due to excitement and running at a brisk pace is easy because of the crowd, on a daily basis, the particulars of a running lifestyle are taxing. Personally, contentment and revitalization have come as I've learned to allow running to seep into life's natural rhythm. It's becoming akin to eating or sleeping in the sense that I'm not deliberate in choosing to do it on a given day. Rather, it's become ingrained as part of my life: the steady thudding of my shoes against the pavement like the beating of my heart, both metronomes of liveliness.