"Thinking, Fast and Slow" ... while running.

There's a good book out by Daniel Kahneman entitled Thinking, Fast and Slow. It's about our thinking processes and a model for how these work. According to Kahneman, our brains seem to have two systems for handling thinking: one that can respond very quickly, almost without thought; and the other which is slower, more deliberate - but usually more accurate. He refers to these systems as, well, System 1 and System 2, respectively. System 1 developed, so the theory goes, to help us avoid predators, react to threats and size up our adversaries quickly. System 2 developed to help us arrive at best answers upon reflection or through computation.

We need both systems, it would seem. And, no, they aren't located in precisely definable spots in the brain, although functional MRI points to some areas that appear to be more involved in each. System 2, the one involved in computational, storage and retrieval tasks, has speed limits on just how fast it can operate. When you push System 2, it feels like work, real work. Think about studying and how hard that can be. You can't study any faster than you can study. And you can't study two things at once. It just doesn't work.

So, what do these systems have to do with running, you might ask?

Well, let me use the very example given by Kahneman in his Chapter 3. He's strolling along the California coast in the Bay Area on one of the scenic hillside paths. At a pace of about 17 minutes per mile, it's a leisurely stroll, one during which he can think or carry on a conversation with a friend. Daniel increases his pace, requiring that his attention actually be drawn to the task of walking. His ability to think clearly and quickly, diminishes. He reaches the fastest pace he can walk in those hills, about 14 minutes per mile. At this point, nearly all his attention is focused on the process of walking, resisting the urge to slow down (a signal coming in from System 1), and not tripping or falling - thinking or carrying on a legitimate conversation have been pushed to the side. System 2 is now occupied with controlling the physical task. As Kahneman expresses it, "Self-control (managing the walking) and deliberate thought (or carrying on that conversation) apparently draw on the same limited budget of effort (from System 2)." (Items in parentheses by this author.)

Marathon pace tattoo
(Courtesy JillOW @ Flickr

Since marathon runners are literally taxing all their System 2 resources to exercise self-control (e.g., keeping up the pace, following the route faithfully, traveling the shortest distance, managing hydration and energy replacement), it's understandable that many of these athletes sport pace tattoos that tell them whether they are on pace or not as they pass each of the mile markers. Indeed, trying to make that computation in one's head whilst also trying to exercise the self-control necessary to simply continue the pace is a challenge beyond the human mind. I'm guessing the timelapserunner may be sporting one of those tats come January 20th, 2013. No sense trying to over-burden his poor System 2 resources.

TODAY'S WORKOUT: Four miles for the long (sic) run today. Goal pace of 14:55 per mile, using 0:30 / 0:44 intervals with goal running pace of 13:34 per mile. Actual performance: 14:15 per mile. Minor tweaks from the left hamstring.