In March 2025, I ran my first trail race, a 30km going up Devil’s Peak, Platteklip, and then finally Lion’s Head. I reached the top of Platteklip and sat down on a rock.
Platteklip has a personality. If you know, you know. I looked down the mountain, saw the lights of Cape Town below, and made a deal with myself that when I reach the bottom, I will stop.
That deal felt very fair, and all my brain wanted was a warm car and a burger. I stood up and walked down the stairs, which for some reason felt way worse than climbing up them. This was actually a blessing in disguise because my mind had the opportunity to deliver a very long speech. I didn’t stop, and I finished the race.
I see this pattern on almost every long or hard run. The mind will always give up long before your body. Human brains love drama, and they tend to write very convincing stories. It panics when discomfort appears and wants to do everything it can to avoid it.
I have learned not to trust my brain during difficult moments because it tends to exaggerate the situation.
But that is easier said than done, so here are a few pointers I’ve learned along the way:
Tip 1: Treat your brain like an overdramatic teammate
Your brain will complain long before your body is done. There will be a little voice in your head telling you that it is too hard and you simply cannot continue. I have learned to treat that voice like an overdramatic teammate because once you get through that hard part, the body proves the brain wrong and you are almost always just fine to continue.
Tip 2: Shrink the problem
A long run looks intimidating when you focus on the full distance, but if you tell yourself “I’m just going to run to that next stop sign,” it all of a sudden sounds way more manageable, right? So, you just keep choosing a new stop sign, and eventually you will get through the hard part. Small goals calm the mind, and the body follows.
Tip 3: Remove small irritations
A strong mind struggles when the body has to fight unnecessary problems. Bad shoes, blisters, or chafing can ruin your focus as you cannot seem to think about anything else. Therefore, I take gear seriously.
When I run on the road I use the ASICS Novablast 5 because it feels light and responsive.
For longer runs, I use the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 28 because it feels soft and comfortable.
For trails, I use the ASICS Trabuco 14 because I literally trust the grip with my life. They are also extremely supportive and comfortable.
Tip 4: Remember that discomfort is normal
Running will always feel uncomfortable at some point. That feeling does not mean that something is wrong; it means that you are doing something hard, and once you accept that truth, the mind stops fighting the experience.
Your brain will always try to protect you from discomfort, and that’s when it starts to negotiate. Sometimes it makes a very convincing argument, but your body is much stronger than your mind, and is more than capable of moving forward.
In all honesty, the hardest part of a run is simply learning not to believe everything your brain says.
Dani Lubbe
ULTRA TRAIL RUNNER | ASICS FRONTRUNNER
