Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> Objectives This study examined the associations among mindfulness, endurance performance, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) resting-state activity, and explored whether PFC resting-state activity served as a neural correlate linking mindfulness to endurance performance in distance runners. Method Ninety-five distance runner completed the Athletic Mindfulness Questionnaire (AMQ), underwent resting-state electroencephalography (EEG), and performed a graded exercise test to determine time to exhaustion (TTE). Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Results Higher overall AMQ and awareness were associated with longer TTE ( <italic>r</italic> = .231, <italic>p</italic> < .05; <italic>r</italic> = .207, <italic>p</italic> < .05); wherein higher overall AMQ is associated with lower PFC resting-state beta activity. Mediation analyses indicated indirect effects of overall AMQ scores (b = 15.84, 95% CI [1.29, 35.07]) and awareness (b = 15.60, 95% CI [1.43, 34.29]) on TTE through lower PFC resting-state beta activity. Conclusions Higher mindfulness was associated with lower pre-performance PFC resting-state beta activity, which was in turn associated with better endurance performance. These findings provide preliminary support for PFC resting-state beta activity as a neural correlate linking mindfulness to endurance performance. </p>