The Long Run

Thursday’s Workout: 8.1 mile treadmill run

Yesterday’s Workout: 2.25 mile run/2 mile stroller walk

I both loathe and love the long run.  It’s definitely a necessary evil during a marathon training cycle.  For some reason, I always dread the long run and seem to psyche myself out before I even hit the pavement.  On the other hand, as soon as I finish my long run, I feel more accomplished and satisfied than after any other workout.  Over 8 marathon training cycles, I’ve found some tricks to get me through my long runs.

1. I’ve done many long runs on the treadmill including a 20 miler during a rather nasty winter.  What got me through 20 miles on the treadmill?  I timed my long run around movies I wanted to watch on TV.  Having something to entertain my mind for 3+ hours helped pass the time and miles.

2. I’ve used races as my long run.  Back in 2010 while training for the NYC Marathon, a friend and I used the Asbury Park Relay Marathon as our 20 mile training run.  Being in the race atmosphere helped with our motivation and it was a definite plus to be timed and have on course support.

3. I run with a friend.  Nothing makes the miles tick by faster than good conversation, laughs and another person to motivate you.

4. A reward – Sometimes I have to talk myself into a double-digit long run but if I have a little reward for myself at the end, it’s all the motivation I need to finish.  It can be a bagel and DD iced coffee or a night out with friends but knowing that I have a little treat at the end of the long run makes me want to pound out those miles.

My long runs haven’t yet hit the double-digits but those 8 miles I ran on Thursday  were long for me.  I think I have a new motivation this year for my long run – get home in time to relieve the husband or grandparent.

How do you stay motivated through your long runs?