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Runner Brain

February 10, 2014 By: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC13 Comments

Y’all – who has ever experienced this:

You’re on a run and trying to figure out what time it will be when you finished based on the pace you are currently running. The math isn’t hard, but for whatever reason, you just aren’t convinced it’s right…

You are telling a story to your run buddy. All of a sudden, you completely forget what you were talking about.

runner's brain

You, my friend have just experienced runner brain. What is runner brain, you ask? Well, I took the term from “mommy brain” – a phrase lots of my mom friends use to explain how after you have a kid, you sometimes just totally space out about something. Same thing happens to runners. My running buddies and I often follow up a statement while running with: “yeah…total runner brain right there.”

On Saturday I experienced total runner’s brain. At mile 8.5 of my 18 mile run, I came across a couple of buddies from my running group (I was running with the group at large, but was basically solo by that point). I decided I wanted the company, so I turned around and ran with them for a bit. That “detour” added over a mile to my run — turning 18 miles into 19+. Which I somehow just didn’t think about at mile 8.5. Let me tell you – I thought a heck of a lot about it at mile 18.5. UGH – RUNNER BRAIN!

Have you ever experienced runner brain? 


Comments

  1. Pam@mamarunsdisney.com says

    February 10, 2014 at 12:17 pm

    Haha…been there. What about the combo of Mommy + Runner Brain. Ugh!

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 10, 2014 at 3:38 pm

      I can only imagine! LOL

      Reply
  2. Kristen says

    February 10, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    Haha I literally can’t do math while I run. I always think I’m going slower than I am which makes for a nice surprise later! And congrats on that crazy long run!
    Kristen recently posted…Monday Motivation: Loving YourselfMy Profile

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 11:25 am

      Thanks Kristen! Good to know it’s not just me 🙂

      Reply
  3. Meranda@fairytalesandfitness says

    February 10, 2014 at 8:07 pm

    Congrats on your longer than expected run! I often look at my Garmin and try to calculate while I run but I need to just stop that and enjoy the runs!
    Meranda@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Motivational MondayMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Kelsey @ Blonder Side of Life says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:26 pm

    Haha only like all the time!! Although sometimes I think I just blame it on runner brain but it’s really just me being blonde lol
    Kelsey @ Blonder Side of Life recently posted…8 Mile & Valentine WeekMy Profile

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 11:14 am

      Haha, definitely runner brain – it’s downright comical how hard it can be to focus during a run!

      Reply
  5. Mar @ Mar on the Run! says

    February 10, 2014 at 9:36 pm

    wait, what? 😉
    Mar @ Mar on the Run! recently posted…What’s in a Link Up?My Profile

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 11:14 am

      LOL!

      Reply
  6. Anita says

    February 11, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Math is not one of my strengths when I am not running and looks kinda like this in my head:

    Q: If I have 10 apples and you have 11 ice cubes how many pancakes will fit on the roof?
    A: Purple because Aliens don’t wear hats.

    I don’t even attempt to use my brain for math while running because it just leads to trouble. 🙂
    Anita recently posted…Playa de Oro Varadero MIMM #12My Profile

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 11, 2014 at 11:01 am

      LOL – That’s pretty hilarious and an accurate description of what goes on in my head 🙂

      Reply
  7. Shalama Jackson says

    February 11, 2014 at 7:29 pm

    Did you say 19 miles instead of 18. Girl! I definitely calculate what time I will or should be done by the pace I am running. Actually, I try to anticipate it before I start if I am planning on doing something later on. My runner’s brain just comes in by thinking this running is a bad idea when I get to mile 10ish or so. I try to remember why i thought this was a good idea. I have no choice but to finish running the miles or race because there is no where to go but where I am headed.
    Shalama Jackson recently posted…Flying high at HiWireMy Profile

    Reply
    • cdredden@gmail.com says

      February 12, 2014 at 9:53 am

      LOL – yes girl! It was crazy! But I had to finish… 🙂

      Reply

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