Toughening the Mind by Challenging the Body

How to build a mindset for endurance

Photo: Paul Bradbury/Getty Images

John was running as fast as possible on the treadmill: His breathing was deep and quick, his face contorted with effort. He was reaching his limit, and would soon be unable to maintain the increasing pace of the VO2 max test (a measurement of the maximum amount of oxygen a person uses during intense exercise). He would choose to…