Not Every Run Hurts the Same: The Power of Mentally Tough Runs

Some runs feel like flying. Others feel like dragging a bag of bricks uphill in the blazing sun. Take last weeks' runs. We hit our first heat wave of the season and my body was not ready for it. The runs were hard and slow. My body hadn't adapted to the warm weather yet, and my mind also had some catching up to do. I had to dig deeper than usual during those runs. I had to talk to myself and will myself to keep pushing.

Yes the heat made them difficult, but I was running the same routes I always do. In theory they weren't any harder then they had been just the week before. Strangely, though, it’s not always the physically demanding runs that test us the most—it’s the ones that challenge us mentally.

I’ve found that for me, mentally tough runs show up in two ways:

 When I run on tired legs.

 When the sun is blazing, and the air feels like soup.

Neither of these situations necessarily means I’m running faster, farther, or on tougher terrain. But they test my patience, my focus, and—most of all—my willingness to keep going when everything in me whispers, “You don’t have to do this.”

Why We Keep Running (Even When We Don’t Have To)

Let’s be clear: We’re not elite athletes training for gold medals. Most of us could absolutely skip a run, stay home, relax, and no one would blink. That’s the truth.

But that’s exactly what makes these mentally difficult runs so powerful.

When you choose to do something hard—not because you have to, but because you can—you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s where growth lives. That’s where confidence is built.

 “Every time I run when it’s hard, I’m proving to myself that I can handle discomfort—and that carries into every other part of my life.”

The Mental Side of Running: Real Pain vs. Protective Resistance

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned (and keep re-learning) as a runner is how to tell the difference between real hurting and mental resistance.

Here’s what I mean:

Real pain is sharp, sudden, or persistent and signals a need to stop, slow down, or seek help. This is your body saying, “Something’s not right.”

Mental resistance, though? That’s your brain trying to protect you from discomfort. It shows up as:

“This is too hard.”

“Why are you even doing this?”

“You should turn around.”

Your brain isn’t the enemy—it just doesn’t love uncertainty. Running in tough conditions, or when you’re low on energy, can feel unsafe to the brain. So it tries to steer you back to what’s familiar and comfortable. Because the couch is always more comfortable!

But here’s the trick: You don’t have to obey every thought that shows up on a run.

You can notice the discomfort. Breathe through it. Dial back your pace. Take a walk break. But keep going—because that’s where the magic happens. Whenever I experience one of those tough runs and push through it, I feel like another brick is put up on my wall of confidence. It's so cliché but those runs are for me just another indication that I can do hard things.

What Mentally Challenging Runs Teach You

Here’s what I’ve personally gained from those “I really don’t feel like it” runs:

1. Mental Endurance

Pushing through when it’s hard builds the same kind of grit you need in other areas of life: parenting, working, juggling all the hats we wear. You get used to sitting with discomfort instead of running away from it.

2. Emotional Resilience

You learn how to ride the waves. One moment you want to quit, the next you’re in a groove. You start trusting that feelings come and go—and that you don’t need to panic when something feels hard. I've rarely had a run where it feels like doom and gloom throughout the entire run. The waves come and go and you learn to live with them and adapt.

3. Confidence

Mentally tough runs are deposits in your “self-belief” bank. Every time you finish one, you carry that win with you. You feel stronger, prouder, and more capable in and out of your running shoes.

4. Discipline Without Punishment

It’s not about “pushing through no matter what.” It’s about honoring your goals while listening to your body. These runs teach you to show up, even imperfectly, and adjust without giving up. I rather show up, even do half a run, then not go out at all.

You’re Allowed to Struggle—That Doesn’t Mean You’re Failing

Mentally hard runs don’t feel good in the moment. They can be messy, slow, full of walking breaks and doubts. But none of that makes them less valuable. In fact, that’s what makes them real training.

You’re not just working your body—you’re building a stronger, braver mind.

So the next time you lace up and it’s hot, or you’re tired, or you just really don’t feel like it… ask yourself:

What kind of strength could I build if I kept going today?

Even if it’s short. Even if it’s slow. That’s still a win.

 Let’s Talk About It:

Have you had a mentally tough run lately? What got you through it?

 DM me on Instagram — I love hearing your stories!

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