Marathon mania: Mind over muscle

It's no secret that training for a marathon requires hard work, as early mornings, thigh-thrashing long runs and pushing near-sickening speeds become the norm. Unfortunately, physical training alone is not enough to ensure you cross the finish line on race day.

Training the mind is essential for performance in endurance exercise, insists renowned sports scientist Dr Tim Noakes. While a marathon forces your body beyond its energy reserves and pushes muscles to the max, Noakes believes it is the brain - not the body - that dictates your limits.

Scientists previously thought the body had limitations and when those were exceeded, the systems failed, you got tired and you stopped. Noakes' theory, on the other hand, known as the Central Governor Model, stipulates that the body's function and performance during exercise is a process regulated by the brain.

Noakes believes our bodies would never allow us to continue to the point of total collapse. Rather, he views the brain as the "control box" forcing the body to slow down or stop so we arrive at the finish intact, retaining a state of homeostasis that includes steady blood glucose and body temperature. It does so by sending a message to your body to activate less of your muscle mass when it is under threat during maximum exertion.

Fatigue is therefore not a physical phenomenon, but an emotion that can be controlled, argues Laura Walsh, former Hong Kong triathlete and mental health sports counsellor. "However bad you feel, it's your brain playing a trick on you, trying to make sure you don't damage yourself." So, to keep going or run faster, you need to learn to activate a larger mass of muscles than your brain is allowing.

Locating that switch and developing "mental endurance" is the key to finding new limits and conquering your marathon goals, says Walsh.