Dr. Joggle & Mr. Stride's Slightly Irreverent Guide to the Psychology of Running: How To Master Marathon Mental Training Skills & Mindfulness Techniques to Balance Your Two Inner Voices
Dr. Joggle & Mr. Stride's Slightly Irreverent Guide to the Psychology of Running: How To Master Marathon Mental Training Skills & Mindfulness Techniques to Balance Your Two Inner Voices
Every runner has two voices.
One wants consistency, patience and smart recovery. The other wants proof speed and “just one more”. Dr. Joggle & Mr. Stride turns the classic Jekyll-and-Hyde idea into a funny-but-useful running mindset book: 32 “Patterns” that capture what really goes on in a runner’s head during training, fatigue and race-week chaos.
It's NOT a strict marathon training plan.
It’s NOT a boring sports psychology textbook.
It’s NOT a rigid “how to run a marathon” manual.
So WHAT’s inside?
- 32 runner psychology Running Patterns across: training, metrics / comparison, recovery / fueling, race week / race day
- 4 debrief chapters + crosswords to turn insight into practical takeaways
- A/B/C/D check-ins so readers can spot their own habits without judgment
- 1 scoreboard to reveal your runner profile
- 1 Rearview Mirror reflection section
- 5 runner profiles + a “Next 14 Days” micro-plan to test one change immediately
- glossary of runner mindset terms
Proven MINDSET frameworks
Beyond the humor, it is grounded in 4 evidence-based approaches used in the performance psychology of running, adapted to runner language:
- ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy): tools for values, consistency and follow-through, when motivation drops and you need to do the right run anyway
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy): tools for reframing thoughts, spotting distortions, interrupting comparison spirals, and thinking more clearly under pressure
- DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy): tools for distress tolerance, impulse control, and emotion regulation when fatigue, frustration, or race-week nerves try to take over
- Mindfulness: tools for attention control, present-moment focus, and staying steady on race day instead of getting dragged around by panic or noise
No complex theory, only recognizable runner situations you can spot quickly & use immediately in training, recovery or racing.
WHO is it for?
- First-time marathoners and beginner runners: the runner who receives it gets clarity without being talked down to, plus simple marathon mindset tools for staying calm
- Half marathon and 10K runners: perfect for runners who want to stop turning every run into a test and start building repeatable fitness
- Masters runners (40+/50+/60+): a mindset-friendly approach that supports recovery, smart effort-based pacing and staying healthy while still feeling strong
- Ambitious runners chasing a PR / personal best: a great companion to any marathon training book or coaching plan, focused on improving mental training marathon
- Gift-givers who want something that will actually be used: practical, funny and meaningful, without needing to know the runner’s shoe size, pace or exact training plan
A perfect gift for runners
Looking for a gift for a runner but not sure what to offer? This book works because it’s about the runner’s mind, the part that shows up in every run, but often neglected.
Great for:
- Christmas gifts for runners & marathoners
- Birthday gifts for runners (men or women)
- Father’s Day gifts for dads who run
- Mother’s Day gifts for moms who run
- A “you’ve got this” surprise before a marathon, half marathon or 10k
- A thoughtful marathon runner gift, marathon finisher gift, or runner gift for any distance
If you want a running book supporting your marathon mental preparation & improve marathon training motivation: