It's no secret that training for a marathon requires hard work,
as early mornings, thigh-thrashing long runs and pushing near-
sickening speeds become the norm. Unfortunately, physical
training alone is not enough to ensure you cross the finish line
on race day. Training the mind is essential for performance in
endurance exercise, insists renowned sports scientist Dr Tim
Noakes. While a marathon forces your body beyond its energy
reserves and pushes muscles to the max, Noakes believes it is
the brain - not the body - that dictates your limits. Scientists
previously thought the body had limitations and when those were
exceeded, the systems failed, you got tired and you stopped.
Noakes' theory, on the other hand, known as the Central Governor
Model, stipulates that the body's function and performance
during exercise is a process regulated by the brain. Noakes
believes our bodies would never allow us to continue to the
point of total collapse. Rather, he views the brain as the
"control box" forcing the body to sl