I completed my first marathon in 2012. I have run over a dozen marathons. Each one required months of training, miles of running and hours on my feet. We can become obsessed and our habits can become unhealthy.
One technique I have employed is a mental one. To ease the pressures from a rigorous training plan or a time goal in a race, I give my self permission to quit. I can quit running in the middle or a run, even a big race. I can quit and not be embarrassed. I can quit and not feel ashamed. I can quit and not beat myself up about it.
Does it work? Maybe it helps relieve pressure. Maybe it helps relax the mind. I think it helps me get started on a hard run. It helps me start a long task. Because sometimes the hardest part is the starting.