Whether you're trying to lose weight, on a team, training for the Olympics, or just love it, running is a good activity to do. Of course not everyone is thrilled about the concept of running because there's a lot that is put into it and there is a lot to think about if you want to lose those extra pounds, want to become faster, or have a better sense of body. But here are three very important things any type of runner thinks about:

1. Eating

It's a given you need to eat, regardless of if you run or not. But the way runners see it, it's all or nothing. Food is the reward, the number one trophy of a run well done. It's the fruit of our labor that revives us to our full potential and allows us to keep that skip in our step. After we reach the climax of our routine, we chow down until the cows come home. Not necessarily on the grill, but you get what I mean.

The way we see it is that if we don't eat after a run, don't expect anything great from us. We're sweaty, tired, and our energy is non-existent. If there is no food in our systems after a run and you immediately ask us to do something, be prepared to use your hungry beast repellent because we will come after you and attack. At least until we eat something.

2. Sleeping

Getting a good, full night's worth of sleep is extremely important. But to one who runs, sleep is all we think about. It is literally our dream to run to our beds and fall into the depths of sleep's realm. We think about how comforting it is to sink down into that REM state of mind, then wake up fully fresh and ready to go again.

I believe that the longer a running workout is, the longer amount of time is allowed for sleep. It definitely keeps me motivated to keep running until sleep is the only other option that's left. We actually get a little paranoid when we don't get enough sleep the night before a race. I personally have only run in 5K races, but whenever I partake in one, I never let the thought of sleep bypass me.

But of course the one thing runners always think about is...

3. Running

Deep breaths. Focus and feel that pulse. Go a little farther, go little faster. Do not slow down for anything. Pace yourself, pace yourself, now go, go, go!

When runners transition their thoughts to strictly focus on running, they are consumed by the zone. Moments before that first launch down the runway, runners are already mentally on the go. When you're in the zone, you're in the zone. You think about your movement, how your arms are positioned, what kind of strides your legs are taking, how high your shoulders are, and of course, that straight road ahead trying to intimidate you, but you know that's impossible because you know you can outrun it. You're a runner.

These three thoughts are not the only things runners think about, but they are the foundation that builds up the runner's thought triangle, the balanced system of a runner's mind.