So far I really like the music in the podcast so I just think about the beat. However when I hit the dreaded wall it is all about trying to motivate myself to keep going

I was just thinking about this... I don't use an iPod anymore, and I run in the woods, so there's a lot of stuff to look at and think about. There's quarter-mile markers along the trail I use. Yesterday's run went like this:

"Oh man, time to start running, this is going to suck, I can't do this... that dog over there is sure cute, though, I love how clumsy his run is... oh no, I'm going to have to pass that walker up there, and they're going to see how slow and jiggly I am.... okay, good, passed them, almost at the quarter mile post, hey, this is going pretty well today, I feel good! Hmm, there's a runner coming back down the other side of the trail, should I say hi or not? Guess not, they ignored me, here comes the three quarter mile post... wow, I can't believe how strong I feel today, usually I'm gasping and wanting to turn around by now... maybe I should try for the mile and a quarter post, I've never made it that far before... I can't believe the scale said 184 this morning, grumble grumble, it should be 2 pounds lower than that... what's that making those bushes rustle over there? Whatever it is, I hope it runs slower than me. Wow, passing the mile post! I've never even seen this part of the trail! Wow, that runner said hi! I can't believe I'm actually running up this damn hill! I used to see people doing this and be so jealous. Mile and a quarter! Sweet! Time to turn around and run back. I am so posting this on Facebook."

:)

I think about all kinds of things

Sometimes I work on problems or issues

Sometimes I make plans and todo lists in my head

Sometimes I think about stuff people have posted...I've come up with some really good "essay" type posts after a long run

Sometimes I let my imagination wander and I pretend to be someone else. I have won the Olympics many a time.

I never run with music or podcasts unless I am on a treadmill. I just run and appreciate the world most of the time. I have 2 young kids, running is the only time I can hear myself think.

lolololol :rofl::rofl::rofl: That is SO me. I don't use an ipod either and I run through the woods too but I end up on a country lane and then up a hill beside the main road on the way home. But I'm so like that as well - my mind wanders like crazy and I always think people are going to notice how slow and jiggly I am when I pass them too lol. And I too set markers for myself whether it be a tree, a shadow, a post or whatever and I'm constantly surprised at how much faster and stronger I am getting. I LOVED your summary!

I usually think about my class I have this summer. I have a field class for biology and we are going hiking in the Rocky Mountains here in Colorado and I refuse to be the person at the end of the line. I did that all semester for my forest ecology field trips and I refuse to do it again.

Whatever problems I started off worried about at the beginning of my run all seem more manageable by the time I'm done. I'm sure the endorphin rush is part of that. Do you guys find the same thing?

On treadmill, I watch tv. If I'm running outside, I don't even listen to music. I just pay attention to my running, breathing, heart rate (I wear a monitor), and sometimes enjoy the scenary passing by. Even with a TV on, I can't run on a treadmill for more than 30 minutes out of boredom. Runing outside, I can run much longer.

I listen to my favorite music, thinking about what going on in my life, or day dreaming. As long as I have good music to listen to, my run just flies by. :)

Today I was thinking and saying to myself..... the fat is melting off, soon I will have no belly fat, no back fat, no but fat, and no leg fat. Size 12 jeans here I come. Thinking about shopping for clothes, wearing my goal swim suit and looking good again. Showing off my body. Having people say 'wow you worked really hard didn't you?' Riding my horses alot again. Feeling good. Fat melting..... I jogged the longest that I have since I started today. Good motivation. They say you have to picture what you want to achieve it. I am going to start to picture me in that swimsuit without the bulgy fat.

Absolutely. :) In fact, when I am stressed out from life, all I can think about is getting home so I can go running and work out my stress. What was bothering me when I start out seems "more manageable" as you put it by the end of the run... and I do think the endorphins have something to do with that. I have noticed since I started regularly exercising that I have much less anxiety in day to day life.

lol, I think about what I am going to look like when I reach goal... about vacationing on the beach and wearing a bikini, about going dancing and feeling sexy, I think about turning heads when I walk down the street :) lol, all vain thinking, I know... but hey, if it makes me run harder, why not?

Fatpants and Dancerindenver---I agree competely. I have been upset over something and found myself thinking "I can cry or I can sweat.........where are my running shoes?"

The music I'm listening to. I sing along while I run (in my head because I don't have enough breath to do it outloud. LOL!)

I am so ADD, my brain is hard to settle into one solid thought. LOL!

When I am running inside, it's around my ping pong table, so I'm generally thinking about not hitting the corners. I can't go into a zone.

When I'm outside, I'm usually taking in my surroundings and trying to enjoy the scenery. My mind usually wanders to my weight loss journey, how far I've come, where I'm going, and where I'll be when.

I think about things or nothing. I solve life problems, I daydream. I win the olympics.

I can only do this when running outside. No music

Inside I watch TV.