Running With Endurance: Saul Mishkin Explains The Importance Of Mental and Physical Strength In Marathons
By: Saul Mishkin
Tags: Marathon, Marathon Training, Saul Mishkin, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Running With Endurance: Saul Mishkin Explains The Importance Of Mental and Physical Strength In Marathons Saul Mishkin Jun 8·4 min read

Marathons, unlike sprints, are a test of not just strength and speed but also endurance. It requires months and sometimes even years of preparation, especially if you are a beginner in the field. Trained marathon athletes recognize the importance of a well-prepared mind and body to participate in an endurance-based sport.

NEX-XOS President Saul Mishkin is an endurance athlete himself. With years of experience under his belt, Mishkin truly sees the value of having mental and physical strength when participating in longer marathons, especially those stretching for 50 miles or longer.

If you are planning to join a long marathon, what are the things you should consider? How necessary is training mentally and physically for you to succeed in the course? Saul Mishkin discusses some essential principles of endurance sports in this post.

Gradual Buildup For Training Matters

When building mental and physical strength, it is crucial not to shock your body by engaging in a long run without prior experience. This brings a risk of injury that will make it difficult for one to recover.

Saul Mishkin emphasizes the importance of a gradual buildup, which means training by steadily increasing one’s mileage. For example, if you are used to running 2 miles every day, you can gradually increase it to 2.5 miles in the following week until you reach a certain level of endurance.

When it comes to marathons, steady and gradual training is key. This way of building mental and physical strength allows you to gauge your limits and provides you with enough time to endure longer tracks as the day of your 50-mile marathon event arrives.

Keeping Eyes On the Prize

Another helpful principle for marathoners is keeping a laser focus when training. It is so easy to be complacent during your non-performance days — going below your daily goals, missing a day of training, or not keeping track of your nutrition can appear to have no effects.

However, these little compromises can eventually build up, causing you to lose your maximum potential in a marathon. As mentioned, “keeping your eyes on the prize” is an essential mental practice to succeed.

Some mental strategies to improve your focus on training includes:

Practicing delayed gratification: Take time to practice delayed gratification in small instances within your day. If there’s a temptation to slack off on training days, consider it challenging to act even when you don’t feel like it.

Take time to practice delayed gratification in small instances within your day. If there’s a temptation to slack off on training days, consider it challenging to act even when you don’t feel like it. Building healthy nutrition habits: Expert marathoners are well-nourished with a balance of all the food groups — whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats. The balanced proportion of the food groups sustains energy, rebuilds muscle, and gives optimal mental function. Saul Mishkin emphasizes that consistently making healthy choices can help you form habits that will stick.

Expert marathoners are well-nourished with a balance of all the food groups — whole grains, lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and healthy fats. The balanced proportion of the food groups sustains energy, rebuilds muscle, and gives optimal mental function. Saul Mishkin emphasizes that consistently making healthy choices can help you form habits that will stick. Remembering your why’s: A goal is worth pursuing if you have deeply embedded reasons on why you want to accomplish it. In times of difficulty, take time to pause and remember your reasons for undertaking the marathon.

Reducing Risks and Pitfalls

Another importance of physical and mental strength training is to reduce the risks and pitfalls of endurance-based sports.

Mishkin believes that strength training is essential to drastically lessen your risk of muscle strains, ligament tears, and other common injuries related to marathon running. When your muscles are in their optimal function, they can help support your body to prevent injury.

Additionally, mental training also supports the pitfalls that result in not completing a marathon event. Some common causes of challenges in marathon completion include:

Inability to endure further discomfort: Endurance is about training your mind to push further even in the face of difficulty and discomfort. The gradual and constant training helps you encounter the same experiences, allowing you to withstand discomfort at the time of the event.

Endurance is about training your mind to push further even in the face of difficulty and discomfort. The gradual and constant training helps you encounter the same experiences, allowing you to withstand discomfort at the time of the event. The thought of “I can’t do it”: Without mental strength, it is easy to pre-judge ourselves as not being capable of performing. When you consistently go a little above what you think you can, it trains your mind that you can push for another mile.

Without mental strength, it is easy to pre-judge ourselves as not being capable of performing. When you consistently go a little above what you think you can, it trains your mind that you can push for another mile. Seeing the obstacle rather than what you have accomplished: Mental training is also essential for a positive outlook. When people are not mentally strong before a marathon, they focus on the miles left rather than what they have already run through.

Training the mind and the body can help prevent physical and mental obstacles that could come up at your marathon event.

Improving Your Biomechanics

Biomechanics, when put, is how you move the energy you expend. When you constantly train, your body will eventually find ways to perform efficiently with less strain and energy.

As a result, you will create larger movements, faster speeds and feel less exhausted when you constantly train physically and mentally for your upcoming marathon.

In the endurance-based athletic community, they sometimes call it “running economy,” or your ability to run longer distances without discomfort or strain. This can only be achieved with consistent strength training both in the mental and physical aspects.

Long-Distance Marathons? Showing Up Is Key

Through the principles and reasons stated above, Mishkin emphasizes the importance of always showing up. Taking gradual steps, pushing away distractions, and setting your mind on your goals despite challenges can help you succeed in long-distance marathons.