When elite runners were tasked with thinking aloud during an eight-mile run, 32 percent of them thought about how painful running was . "Hill, you're a bitch," was one runner's spoken thought, according to a study published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology in June.

Another 40 percent thought about their time and pacing ("Hips forward, my stride a little bit wider than normal; a nice heel toe."), and 28 percent thought about their environment ("These trees are so cool in the wind.").

But as someone who is more focused on fitness than splits -- let's call me a member of the not-so-elite running community -- I take a different tactic. Rather than focusing on the next hill, distracting myself from the task at hand seems to make running a tiny bit less painful.

As it turns out, I'm not alone. Some self-identified amateur runners think about what they're having for dinner or plan fantasy vacations. Others pick out mini targets in the distance , and still others count out loud until the workout is, thankfully, over.

Here's what some not-so-elite real runners we know think about when they run. Sound familiar?