When I first started training for marathons, it wasn’t just finishing the race that gave me a runners high, it was also completing each long run 16 miles and longer.  What happened to my rush?

Last weekend, I ran my first 18 mile long run for this training season.  Now if it was done all or in part on the treadmill, that would explain the lack of contentment.  It wasn’t.  I enjoyed a wonderful run outside. The temperature was slightly warmer but still felt chilly.  Zoey and I started out at 5:30 am. The roads were partially covered in packed snow with a lot of sludge on main roads.  We ran 8 ½ miles before I brought her home to change to thicker gloves and continue on alone.  Before running, pre run fuel was a honey waffle.  I had a sip of Amino’s and Nuun Performance then got underway.  The only additional fuel was 1 powergel after 8 ½ miles.

I ran to Acacia Village to visit Dad. It was early so I explored some back roads around the Masonic Community.  What a nice area! Stopped to see Dad a little after 7:30 then continued on.  The plan was to run rolling hills.  There were short hills but my course wasn’t what anyone would define as rolling.  Still, I kept it outside instead of giving into the winter chill and hopping on the treadmill.  What was unusual was in the end, it didn’t feel like an 18 mile run. Sure there was stiffness after sitting for 15 minutes but that quickly went away.  Where was my feeling of accomplishment that usually comes after that first long run of the training season?  I wondered if my Garmin needed recalibrating?

Maybe after running so many marathons my body adapted quickly to the long run?  Still don’t know why I felt so good last weekend.

Move forward to this weekend when my run consisted of a 60 – 80 minute warm up then 6 x 3 minute repeats at 10K pace/ 2 minutes at half marathon pace, and a 20 – 30 minute cool down.  The goal was 18 miles total.  I started out with Zoey then at 4 miles my stomach started cramping. Recovered from that but never felt great.  8 miles felt more like 18.  I headed home after 10 miles to see if I could motivate myself to do repeats on the treadmill.  #nevergiveup.

Before getting on the treadmill, I took a Clif gel (before heading out in the morning, I had a honey waffle).  I knew that gel wasn’t going to do it so I decided to make a smoothie to sip while trying to get more miles in on the mill.

It didn’t give me super energy but it sure did taste great!  Being honest here, this was a delay tactic because my body didn’t want to run anymore.  What a sweet way to delay a run! YUM!

Banana-Mango Power Juice

  • 1 medium banana
  • 1 mango
  • 2 medjool dates
  • 1 cup non dairy milk (I used Soy)
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup water *or however much is needed to make your preferred consistency.

Toss all the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. 

Bubbles of love!

End result was that I got 16 miles on my legs.  It wasn’t the 18 as planned but there was no quitting. Instead, I found a way to power through and keep going.  That’s the key to endurance sports. Just find a way #FINDAWAY.

Isn’t it funny how one week your body feels great and can give you more and more then the next, it lets you down, feeling as if it’s been through multiple long runs?  Not every week, not every run is going to be good nor will they be bad.  Take it as it comes and if that week is an “off” week, just find a way to keep going a little bit longer. That’s endurance. That’s desire. And THAT’S what gets us to the finish line.

Joanne

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