If you run at all, you’ve been asked what you think about when you run. Some people ask because they’ve convinced themselves that running is boring. Others ask out of genuine curiosity. I’ve probably been asked this question hundreds of times. Usually, I’m at a loss to explain it because it varies so much.

There is one situation where the answer is easy, though. I didn’t realize how easy it was to explain what I think about during racing until last weekend.

I ran a 10k race where at least half of the course was on a service drive running parallel to 696 near Detroit. Scenic would not be a great adjective to describe the course. When I finished, RunnerGirl asked if the course was as bad as I had anticipated.

I couldn’t really answer her.

No. I didn’t black out during the race. No, I didn’t take any shortcuts, either.

I’ve read that elite athletes practice association while sub-elites generally use disassociation. Association means focusing on internal muscular cues to gauge effort, strain, fatigue, etc. Disassociation is interested in distracting the body from the pain it is experiencing.

Now, I’m not claiming to be elite at all. However, I do try to develop my association skills and focus on my kinesthetic signals.

During the 10k, I didn’t notice the course because I was extremely focused on my pace, my legs, my lungs, my posture, etc. I was constantly searching for that red-line to push my body as hard as it could go for 10,000 meters and no harder.

I didn’t run the perfect race, but I am confident I ran a much better race than if I had been thinking about my Ipod or my plans for the afternoon or anything else.

So when I am asked what I think about when I’m racing, at least I can answer that question.

What do you think about when you run?