I discovered the secret to having a long run that flies by!
The majority of my Saturdays are usurped by long runs...by the time I finish running, feasting, ice bathing, napping, showering again and getting dressed, the day is already halfway over.
I really didn't plan on running so many miles, but I wanted to jog over to Tappan's so that I could take an ice bath, so that added on a little at the end. And it seriously felt so easy and comfy, as if I could have run forever.
So I decided that since I was off today and the weather was relatively cool this morning (around 50ish), I thought I'd knock it out early. Two of my dear friends who run were doing 6 miles at 6am, so I just structured my long run around this and did a few miles before and afterward.
I ran 23 miles at 8:15 pace and it FLEW BY in my head.
I know I always say that, but it really did.
I know I always say that, but it really did.
Here's my new discovery to make your long run fly by:
-break it up in your head!
-make little mini destinations along the way (aka bathroom for me today)
I'm sure I'm the last one to figure this out, and you all probably do this already, so I apologize if this is old news. I had thought about this concept in the past, but this was the first time that I put it into practice and I truly was shocked at how quickly the time went by.
I legit tricked myself!
I legit tricked myself!
So in my head, I did a 3 miles, followed by 6 miles (starbucks bathroom), followed by 3 miles (home bathroom), followed by 8 miles (home bathroom), followed by 3 miles (Tappan's bathroom). This just reinforces to me that RUNNING IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD!
And the big news for the day is the Zensah Fitness Bra giveaway winner...
NOTE: I am PRETTY sure random.org must be posessed by a wild spirit because the winner is the SAME winner from my first ever giveaway:
Heather, congrats!! Send me an e-mail at katherine.hopper @ gmail.com and I'll get you hooked up with the Zensah folks.
What's your secret to a great long run? Break it up in your head into "mini runs"? Solo vs. group?
I usually do my long runs with a group on a pre-planned route, but all my Boston training buddies are done training for the season and I'm prob going to do a marathon in California on May 6th, so I did this long on my own, which was not bad at all (which I had been a little fearful of.)
I usually do my long runs with a group on a pre-planned route, but all my Boston training buddies are done training for the season and I'm prob going to do a marathon in California on May 6th, so I did this long on my own, which was not bad at all (which I had been a little fearful of.)
A) Who runs 23 miles and it isn't that bad?! Only you, my friend! Nice run!!!!
ReplyDeleteB) Wahoo!! I should feel ashamed... but I don't really :) Emailing you now!
So when's your next marathon? ;) breaking up the runs helps me too. I also like stopping to take photos of stuff.
ReplyDeleteWellp the longest run I ever did was about 14 miles, so I don't know what 23 miles feels like. I love all of your bathroom breaks, too funny! Have a fantastic weekend!
ReplyDeleteWowwww that's a terrifically amazing run!! Congrats! And congrats to Heather! :)
ReplyDeleteI do a lot of long runs in Central Park and I break it up by loops. A 20 miler is only running to and from the park and 3 loops of the park-which flies by...
ReplyDeleteNice job on the 23 miler! A marathon in May? That's exciting! WHich one are you looking at?
Amazing run today! I don't know if I could ever say 23 miles wasn't "that bad"...so I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteI suck at math but when I'm running long I seem to do math all over the place to break up the effort. Nice work and congrats to Heather!
ReplyDeleteThe last "long" run I went on (was only 8.7 miles, but that's long-ish for me) I reset my garmin about half way through b/c it was acting weird. Well, then it felt like I ran two easy and quick 4.5 miles runs. Most painless "long" run I've ever done. I think I'll try it again. I'm sure the novelty of the trick will wear off, though.
ReplyDeleteGreat run!!! And, 23 miles sounds pretty hard core to me. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe long run used to be my baby, I always looked forward to it and always stayed fairly strong. Now it's a constant struggle...I lost way too much conditioning with my foot and getting my head back into the long run is not happening. Must try some new tactics...thanks for the advice. Love the picture of you against the wall! :)
ReplyDeleteI wish my long runs would fly by! Especially one that is 23 miles!
ReplyDeleteI usually break it up mentally and/or run with friends!
Absolutely run with friends (any distance they can spare) and you are so right about chunking it up!!! Potty breaks all the way!
ReplyDeleteI just go and don't think about the mileage, which I guess is easy for me but other people have told me that's challenging for them. I like the quite time I guess.
ReplyDeleteI think that wall in that pic was made for you! So bright!
Do you always get Saturdays off?? My long run schedule is always thrown off by working every other weekend, blah.
ReplyDeleteI break my run up into smaller parts and that makes it easier. Three loops of the park? One loop at a time. Out and back? Run until I get there and then turn around and start counting again. Or count down to a bathroom. So much better.
What marathon are you training for??
Great tips! There is so much of a mental game in running, especially long runs or speed work. Awesome distance and pace, as usual! :) I often break long runs into two (10 out, 10 back) but I'll have to try breaking it up like this, I think that would trick me, too.
ReplyDeletei totally agree with this post! great job!
ReplyDeleteWhen I find myself keeping track of how far I've gone or have left to go in a run, I usually try to find a new route. If I don't have a sense of how far I've gone (I don't wear a garmin when running and tend to map them after I'm finished), I go further more comfortably. Maybe that's silly, but just keeping routes fresh make them far more interesting to me.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, do you follow a specific training plan? I want to begin training for the marathon in November but it's new territory for me-I usually just run without much forethought. Any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! :o)
Hi there! I don't have a specific training plan...I just do long runs on the weekend (based on the mileage of the group that I do my Saturday runs with) and then I run whatever feels good during the week!
DeleteBreaking up the distance definitely helps. I actually do a small walk break every mile during my long runs and it's easier to run 20x 1 milers than 1x 20 miler. Congrats on a strong 23 miler!!
ReplyDeleteI will definitely keep that idea in mind as I crank up my mileage--great idea! Stopped by from the Sweat Pink hop (a little late to the party).
ReplyDeletefirst of all i am in creative overload loving that pic of u!! the combo of the colors of the wall and ur awesome orange top are gorgeous!! and way to ROCK that long run!! have to say i'm having a bit of runner envy at all dem miles...hehe. i totally break up my runs in my head; not just long runs but hard workouts, i do it all...all about the mind games. as always great post and really helpful tips for runners.
ReplyDeleteI have to break up my run in segments...usually 5 mile increments. I have a different goals depending on what segment I'm on.
ReplyDeleteBased on your comment on my blog, I see that you're up late, too? Working nights this weekend like me?
ReplyDeleteHope your weekend is going well : )