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Getting Mentally Prepared For The Broad Street Run

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- 40 thousand people are running in Philadelphia's 35th Broad Street Run on Sunday.

It's not just a physical challenge but a mental one as well.

And a clinical physiologist who is running the 10 miler has some tips for participants to get to the finish line.

It starts with breathing deeply to elicit a relaxation response.

"Calming your body down physiologically is really an important way to get to the finish line," says Dr. Daniel Leichter, a clinical psychologist at Moss rehab at Doylestown hospital.

He says keep smiling and take in the crowd as they cheer you on.

"The energy of the crowd is wonderful and it's exciting and it really helps everyone through out the race," Dr. Leichter says find your inspiration as you head towards the finish line.

"I think if you can keep somebody in your heart that you may have lost or somebody that you love or somebody who can't be there like you now somebody over seas," he says a 10 mile Broad Street Run could be overwhelming to many and he advises runners when training to find their own pace and simply take it one step at a time.

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