Mind over matter

When looking into mind over matter, it seems that this phrase has come from meditation. Many scientists believe we only use the left hand side of our brain but meditation helps us to use the right hand side and thus create a mind of matter state within us.
What I wanted to look at in closer detail was mind over matter in running. Tim Noakes has argued that it is the brain that allows or limits endurance performance rather than the body. Noakes explains that the brain is there to look after us and keep us in safety and therefore it must be the brain that allows us or prevents us from carrying on with endurance activities. This is interesting to think about for my performance as it will be testing my endurance. Noakes's research has found that you can train the mind as well as the muscles. Mental fatigue can lead to the perception of physical fatigue. It is possible to trick the mind into allowing the body to work harder. 'If you want to be competitive, you have to deal with the discomfort.'
This information has come form the a website below:
http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=17712&PageNum=1

Tips to deal with Mind Over Matter in Endurance Activity

• Give yourself a pep talk. Tell yourself you are not physically tired, it is just mental and you can push through it.
• Break up the activity into smaller segments.
• Remember it's not meant to be easy. If it were then everyone would be doing it.
• Have a phrase that you repeat to yourself over and over to help you stay focused and motivated. Could get the audience to should the phrase out when I looked tired or have a recording of the phrase playing throughout. When I was training for the marathon I used to say to myself 'No pain, no gain.

Running is a great way in which you can learn about yourself and your limits. 

Henry Ford once said 'whether you think you can or you can't, you're right'.