THE SCIENCE OF TOUGHNESS

Drawing from mindfulness, military case studies, sports psychology, neuroscience, psychology and philosophy, Steve Magness' Do Hard Things shows how real toughness makes us more successful, happier and ultimately better people

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MENTAL FITNESS DO HARD THINGS

As a student, Steve Magness was a successful middle-distance four-minute mile barrier, Magness underwent an experience that shaped his life.

runner. While competing for the University of Houston in the Don Bowden Mile, which was created to commemorate the first American to break the After the starting gun, Magness quickly slotted himself into third place behind the pacesetters in a field of seven runners. His tactics were simple: get near the front from the off, lock his gaze on the runner in front and then zone out until there was a little over a lap to go, when he would reengage, dig deep and use his mental strength to help him overcome the pain and fatigue to get himself over the line.

Around the 900m mark, though, Magness felt himself tightening and straining. His breathing became a high-pitched gasp and even though his legs felt fine, he started.

to have what he describes as an "internal freak-out". Magness tried to ignore what was happening to him and grind his way through the experience. He was tough, after all - that's why he was such a successful runner.

There was only a lap-and-a-half to go and he was right where he wanted to be. He just needed to push through the pain and it would pass eventually.

However, less than 100m later his inner voice screamed at him: "I can't breathe". It felt as if something was lodged in his airway.

Magness pulled off the track and collapsed to his knees, and after a few panic-stricken moments the blockade in his throat disappeared. Magness prided himself on his toughness, and after most races he would throw up having pushed himself to the point of exhaustion. But this was different.

Something was wrong. Magness later discovered he had a vocal cord dysfunction and, had he tried to tough it out to the finish line, he would have passed out.

Real toughness