Yesterday's Run, aka how to make long runs more fun.

LorinaLynn
LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have a 10k in about 3 weeks, and wanted to do a practice run on the course, so I drove there yesterday. I really prefer distances around 5k and get bored during long runs. I'm also not feeling all that competitive about running these days, so I'm perfectly happy adding some walk intervals. So, to make the whole thing more interesting, I took photos with my Android during my walk intervals.

I can't express how much I love having a smartphone! :heart: So nice to have Runkeeper tracking things, a nice little compact point and shoot camera, a phone in case of emergencies, and all my favorite tunes all in one neat little package.

/takes out dentures and shakes cane at the young whippersnappers...

I remember when portable phones were the size of car batteries and had a cord, and being overjoyed when the first handheld phones came out, which were the size of bricks. :laugh:

Anyway, here's some of the photos.

The pond at Kirby Park.
IMAG0539.jpg

You can't quite make it out, but there was someone sleeping on the park bench.
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Along the top of the levee system.
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Along the Susquehanna River with the county court house in the distance.
IMAG0528.jpg

The pond again.
IMAG0537.jpg

Susquehanna River from Market Street.
IMAG0527.jpg

Market Street Bridge.
IMAG0525.jpg

I overestimated the course, and ended up running 6.5 miles. Even with walk intervals, even stopping to snap a few shots, I finished in just under 61 minutes. :smile:

Ideally, I'd like to break last year's PR of 53:17 for the 10k. I'm pretty sure I can do it, even if I walk a little here and there, as long as I walk less than I did and don't take photos. But I'm not going to be heartbroken if I don't break it, either.

Replies

  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    I love you. :-)

    I listen to audiobooks on long runs, currently Stephen Fry's "The Fry Chronicles" and yes - thank you smartphones!
  • Squeeks70
    Squeeks70 Posts: 157 Member
    What a beautiful run! I will be running my first 5K since having issues with my IT band and getting inserts next weekend. Looking forward to it. It is called the Harvest Stompede in Traverse City, MI. We will be running through wineries. We will follow the race with a nice little wine tour. :wink: Have fun on your run. Hope you do well!
  • Rachaelluvszipped
    Rachaelluvszipped Posts: 768 Member
    Love it...I too, have a hard time getting motivated...need scenery to make it worth my while and I soooo love yours!:love:
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    What a beautiful route to run!

    I wish, though, people would stop telling all the world how enjoyable running can be - pretty soon the paths will be overcrowded and the unfortunate shareholders in pharmaceutical companies will be poor as their dividends will dry up........:happy:
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I love you. :-)

    I listen to audiobooks on long runs, currently Stephen Fry's "The Fry Chronicles" and yes - thank you smartphones!
    I listen to audiobooks too.
    Right now I'm alternating between three series:
    The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
    The Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
    The Simon Serrailler Series by Susan Hill.

    That's the key for me for long runs (or short runs, or treadmill runs...)
  • heatherrose9
    heatherrose9 Posts: 122 Member
    What a beautiful route to run!

    I wish, though, people would stop telling all the world how enjoyable running can be - pretty soon the paths will be overcrowded and the unfortunate shareholders in pharmaceutical companies will be poor as their dividends will dry up........:happy:

    Hahaha
  • Smuterella
    Smuterella Posts: 1,623 Member
    I love you. :-)

    I listen to audiobooks on long runs, currently Stephen Fry's "The Fry Chronicles" and yes - thank you smartphones!
    I listen to audiobooks too.
    Right now I'm alternating between three series:
    The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
    The Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
    The Simon Serrailler Series by Susan Hill.

    That's the key for me for long runs (or short runs, or treadmill runs...)

    Ooh, thanks, I'll look into these. :-)
  • Grlnxtdr0721
    Grlnxtdr0721 Posts: 597 Member
    Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures! I will be running my 2nd and 3rd 5k in September and October. The September one is at my old high school which has a beautiful campus along the Tennessee River. The one in October is the 5k version of the marathon, and will be over the same river. Pretty excited, and hoping they go well since my first race was the color run and untimed.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    On Monday, I went for a trail run and got lost. :blushing: I took a trail I last took walking the dog, from the other direction, and the next thing I knew, I was no longer on a trail and just plain in a forest. :laugh:

    So that time, too, I took photos during my walk intervals. And in the back of my head, I thought, "They'll use these to recreate my last moments after they find my corpse." :tongue:

    None of the ones I snapped off trail turned out. Little too dark. But once I got out of the woods...

    IMAG0461.jpg

    There's a church way off in the distance that's about a quarter of a mile from my house. That's looking downhill, but I was gong uphill.
    IMAG0463.jpg

    I did a lap around a small cemetery, just to make sure there were no zombies. Then back on another trail (where I got lost again), pretending zombies were chasing me.
    IMAG0464.jpg

    I had to use my GPS on google maps to find my way. Because really, all trails pretty much look like this.
    IMAG0467.jpg

    When I got to the BMX course, I knew where I was.
    IMAG0471.jpg

    I never see anyone on them, but did see some videos on Youtube. Really makes me want a bike. Really makes my husband glad I don't have one. :happy:
  • fitfunk
    fitfunk Posts: 119 Member
    That pond and surrounding area looks so serene, lovely run. I would definitely get lost on the 2nd trail you posted.

    I used to love running with a little ipod shuffle, but now I use my iPhone for music, interval timer app etc. I'm always impressed with people who run listening to podcasts or audio books. Part of me thinks I would enjoy that, but part of me thinks I need to music to keep me going. Maybe I'll try it on a longer slower run.
  • confettibetti
    confettibetti Posts: 405 Member
    Awesome!!!!!! I'm going to do this too!!!!
  • MrsAzriel
    MrsAzriel Posts: 35 Member
    You have such beautiful scenery to run. I live in the desert so we lack that.

    Running got a lot more fun for me when I started coaching cross country. I run with my girls and get to listen to all sorts of teenage fun.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I love you. :-)

    I listen to audiobooks on long runs, currently Stephen Fry's "The Fry Chronicles" and yes - thank you smartphones!
    I listen to audiobooks too.
    Right now I'm alternating between three series:
    The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
    The Dublin Murder Squad Series by Tana French
    The Simon Serrailler Series by Susan Hill.

    That's the key for me for long runs (or short runs, or treadmill runs...)

    Ooh, thanks, I'll look into these. :-)
    Another poster on here recommended the Dresden Files. Fun and keeps me motivated on runs.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    You have such beautiful scenery to run. I live in the desert so we lack that.

    And as an east coast mountain girl, I'd find the desert beautiful. :smile:

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