If you're a marathoner (or a marathoner in training), you know a unique form of determination. But is there a difference in the persistence of a first-time marathoner who’s aiming simply to finish and, say, a two-time Olympic marathon runner like Liz Yelling who’s looking to set a new personal best? What's happening in the brain when one commits to completing an endurance race like a marathon?
We asked Dr. Beth McQuiston, a neurologist and medical director at Abbott, and she began by pointing out that every person’s brain is different. For some, their prefrontal cortex, which connects with other regions of the brain to regulate emotions, is more prominent, influencing dopamine (a chemical released in the brain that makes you feel good) when training.
For others, certain areas of their cingulate gyrus, a part of the brain that impacts emotion processing, may be more active, enhancing focus, spurring tenacity and yielding positive feelings. Still other runners may be driven by feelings of anxiousness or nervousness sparked by their amygdala, a roughly almond-shaped mass that impacts the experiencing of emotions.
Experienced vs. Beginner Runners: Mentally so Different?
We know there's often a vast difference between the physical performance of seasoned and novice runners. But what about their mental performance?
To explore the driving force behind a new runner, we spoke with Abbott runner Claudia Guzman, who finished her first marathon in Chicago just last fall. When she decided to pursue running her first marathon, she was a true beginner.
"I had always been interested in keeping good health and staying in shape," she said. "There are only so many workouts you can do before you really want a challenge. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it."
For Guzman, picturing the finish line kept her committed to her training, even on her hardest days. "I kept thinking about, and visualizing, myself crossing the finish line," she said. "I had that mental picture of myself accomplishing this goal, and it became about not wanting to let myself down."
In other words, her cingulate gyrus could be constantly firing, keeping Guzman focused on the positive.
Her self-motivation took her all the way to her first finish line in Chicago, and recently all the way down Boylston Street when she ran the 2023 Boston Marathon.
And what about an experienced runner who has already proven to themselves that they can accomplish this goal? What keeps them motivated?
Olympic marathoner Yelling described a different challenge that pro runners like herself often face and beginner runners likely do not: The world is watching them.
"Especially when you're known, you're accountable for your performance. It's public, and some people are there to watch you. You don't want to let anyone down," Yelling said.
How would McQuiston explain the science behind that fear of letting others (or in Guzman’s case, yourself) down?
The amygdala can "create mental weeds," as McQuiston describes it, causing runners to feel nervous.
"When the amygdala tries to pull your emergency brake out of fear or anxiousness, you have to find a positive mental place," McQuiston says.
"Things like music, connecting with others, or the support of a cheer zone can help balance out dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins for some people."
Our brains are extremely complex, and training for and running a marathon is a lot to endure mentally, aside from just physically. But at the end of the day, whether you're a world-class prefrontal cortex-dominant runner or a beginner prefrontal cortex-dominant runner, you're likely experiencing the same drive.
Having marathon experience may make your upcoming race feel less daunting, but we all can relate on how it feels to set and achieve a goal.
