“Just a minute,” you might say. “How does sitting and thinking about nothing benefit my running program?” The benefit of meditation to your running program is in increased focus, just as with yoga. Even if you aren't ready to incorporate yoga into your overall exercise program, perhaps you have time to meditate. If so, you'll notice the benefits of meditation to your running program as well as to other aspects of your life almost immediately. These include:

• Increased blood flow

• Increased brain wave coherence

• Increased self-confidence and feelings of well-being

• Increased exercise tolerance

• Decreased muscle tension

• Decreased blood pressure

• Decreased anxiety, depression, and moodiness

Do some research, and you'll soon discover that meditation can benefit you physically, psychologically, and spiritually. And a better you makes a better runner.