The lesson I’ve learned from my marathon training plan is to do a system check regularly throughout your run, whether it’s a sprint or a long-distance race. To perform a system check, start from the inside out and from top to bottom. How are you feeling? How is your posture—is it straight and in form, or broken down? Are your muscles tensing up unnecessarily? Are you looking down at the ground or looking forward, with your chin leading your chest? How is your arm movement—is it side to side or backward and forward to increase your momentum? How is your breathing—is it shallow or full? Are you activating your full breath with lots of oxygen, or just taking short bursts in and out? How is your heartbeat? How are your hips moving? How are your knees and ankles—are they hurting or feeling weird in any way?

It’s not about overthinking or finding excuses to stop but taking time to listen and have a conversation with yourself. Be honest and transparent, be objective, and let go of your ego. Once you ignore the signs, it will be harder to notice them next time, as your mind gets used to it but not your body. This can lead to injuries, especially in athletes—mental training and physical training must go hand in hand. Pushing limits is great, but doing it recklessly can lead to accidents and injuries, which is stupid and unnecessary. You want to be smart and healthy; the best athletes are smart athletes. You can even broaden your system check by looking back: Have you gotten enough sleep? How was your diet and fuel? Have you had enough rest?

Do a system check as often as you can, spend time with yourself, and strive for longevity. Our body is the only vehicle we use for all our lives—remember your role as a thoughtful mechanic.

This is about running; this is also not about running.