Long Distance Runners

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your tips for The Long Ones please

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  • KateRunsColorado
    KateRunsColorado Posts: 407 Member
    Do an "out-and-back" - then you won't get lost, AND you're practically forced to go the whole distance - you have to get back home somehow!

    EDIT to add - I just saw someone else posted about out-and-backs too - and they also brought up another good point - in that it kind of breaks up the run, because for the first half, you're just focused on getting to the half-way point, and not the entire distance overall. Makes it seem shorter.
  • mitchyinge
    mitchyinge Posts: 196
    wow lots more posts, thanks everyone, it helps to know other people can be a little apprehensive about their longer runs too - I think I've worked something out for tomorrow, mostly through woods so no cars to worry about just bogeymen and deer :)
  • mitchyinge
    mitchyinge Posts: 196
    I cracked it, yay. :)
  • Zekela
    Zekela Posts: 634 Member
    I just go out and run. I don't think of it as a long run, I think of it as time by myself, for myself. It is the only time I get away from everyone. If I'm not feeling the run, I cut it shorter and if I'm feeling the run, I go longer.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    I'm two miles from a thirty five mile rail trail. I'll run there and back, unless I'm pushing the distance. In that case, I find the hill at .5 miles challenging, so I'll drive to the trail and run. As a new runner, I'm surprised at how hard it is, geographically, to plan good longer routes.
  • likitisplit
    likitisplit Posts: 9,420 Member
    Do an "out-and-back" - then you won't get lost, AND you're practically forced to go the whole distance - you have to get back home somehow!

    EDIT to add - I just saw someone else posted about out-and-backs too - and they also brought up another good point - in that it kind of breaks up the run, because for the first half, you're just focused on getting to the half-way point, and not the entire distance overall. Makes it seem shorter.

    Yeah, the hard half is all about "getting home" so you're motivated.
  • MelisRunning
    MelisRunning Posts: 819 Member
    I have to break my long runs into smaller runs, that is, thinking of my 24 miler coming up on Wed. as five 5 milers (and yes, I know the math isn't right). If I look at running 24 miles, without any company, on Christmas Day, it is completely overwhelming. A couple of 5 milers isn't so bad~5 miles is a warm up, right!? It's playing little mind games like that, well it really does help.

    Right now, we have a brand new highway that is not yet open to traffic that I have been saving as my treat on which to run my 24 miler on Christmas Day. 12 miles out and 12 miles back on fresh, new asphalt! Can you say, "Happy Feet!"
  • mitchyinge
    mitchyinge Posts: 196
    As a new runner, I'm surprised at how hard it is, geographically, to plan good longer routes.

    I can't imagine doing it without access to other runner's routes, on garmin or mapmyrun, but it's so much better if someone comes out with me for at least part of the way the first time otherwise I get lost (or feel lost, not quite the same thing) very easily. I don't mind the feeling of being lost off road though, it's not quite so scary.
  • mitchyinge
    mitchyinge Posts: 196
    Right now, we have a brand new highway that is not yet open to traffic that I have been saving as my treat on which to run my 24 miler on Christmas Day. 12 miles out and 12 miles back on fresh, new asphalt! Can you say, "Happy Feet!"

    awwww happy christmas to your feet! that sounds so nice!
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