Long runs are the ultimate test of endurance—for your body and your brain. Somewhere between mile 3 and mile “why am I doing this?”, the mind starts to wander, spiral, and occasionally philosophize.
If you’ve ever gone out for a ‘just a few easy miles’ and ended up locked in a mental debate about snacks, life choices, and bathroom availability… this one’s for you.
Here are the most common, funny, and painfully familiar thoughts every runner has had during a long run.
1. ‘Okay. Let’s do this.’
Starting strong, playlist on, gear checked. You’re basically a running god and the first few minutes feel like you could do this forever.
2. ‘I should run a marathon.’
Mile 1 and confidence is sky-high. Never mind that you’ve never run more than 10 miles. You’re already mentally shopping for race day gear.
Related: 10 Signs You Might Not Be Ready for a Marathon
3. ‘Did I lock the door?’
And thus begins the loop of domestic doubt. You’ll spend at least the next mile debating whether your front door is wide open or your stove is still on.
4. ‘Why is that dog judging me?’
You lock eyes with a dog mid-run. It seems… disappointed in your form. You carry that shame for several blocks.
5. ‘How am I already tired?’
You check your watch—2.7 miles in. Betrayal. Surely, you’ve been running for at least an hour?
6. ‘Maybe I should’ve used the bathroom first.’
This realization hits with the force of an oncoming cramp. You scan the horizon like a lost traveler searching for a portable toilet.
Related: How to Poop Before a Run: 6 Tips to Empty Your Bowels
7. ‘Oh look, another hill. Great.’
You don’t remember planning this elevation. Who designed this route? Oh right, you did. Past You was clearly a sadist.
8. ‘Don’t look at the pace. Don’t look at the pace.’
You look. You immediately regret it. The GPS must be broken. Clearly.
9. ‘That runner looks so fast. I hate them. I want to be them.’
Someone glides past you with zero effort. Are they even breathing? Are they floating?
10. ‘When I’m done, I’m eating literally everything.’
Pizza? Pancakes? A gallon of chocolate milk? You’re basically running for your next meal.
11. ‘Maybe I’ll just stop and walk… forever.’
You weigh the pros and cons of giving up entirely and becoming a person who only talks about running instead of doing it.
12. ‘Why do I even do this to myself?’
The internal monologue turns dramatic. You question your life, your goals, and your sanity. Briefly.
13. ‘Wait. I feel… good?’
Out of nowhere, your legs loosen up and the runner’s high hits. You’re basically invincible.
Related: 20 Signs You’re Hooked on Running
14. ‘I’m gonna post about this run the second I’m done.’
You’ve already drafted the Instagram caption and selected the right emoji to describe your pain.
15. ‘I did it. I am a legend.’
The run is over. You’re exhausted, proud, maybe a little delirious—but fully convinced you just conquered Mount Everest.
Related: 20 Oddly Satisfying Rituals Runners Do on Race Day
In between the self-doubt and snack fantasies, long runs take us on a wild mental journey. But somewhere in that mess of thoughts and miles, we find clarity, strength, and runner’s high. And that’s why we keep showing up—again and again.
