Love ‘Em And Leave ‘Em

Posted: October 29, 2011 at 9:47 am

This morning I had the LAST long run before my first half-marathon!

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Can you believe it? Savannah is just a week away!!!!! I am so excited! Just as I was for this run. I had ten miles to cover before laying low with a couple shorter speed sessions before next weekend.

The run went mostly well. My left calf and right hip flexor both got a little tight towards the end of the run, but otherwise I felt great. Just cold.

It’s a little bittersweet because, truthfully, I LOVE the long runs of training. I would easily say I prefer long runs over the other parts of training. Each week feels like such an accomplishment. To run distances I used to deem impossible never fails to brighten my mood.

Although, as much as I do love the long runs, I certainly won’t mind leaving behind certain parts in the weeks post training. Here are the top 5 things about long runs that don’t make me smile right now.

Butt-Crack of Dawn

Waking up around 5:30 am on a Saturday does not ever sound appealing. But you gotta do what you gotta do.

Eating When Not Hungry

Perhaps worse than the early wake-up call is the force-feeding. My typical pre-run fuel of a whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter and jelly plus half of a Larabar certainly tastes like a winning combo. I would normally eat it up quite joyfully. But at 5:30 am? I’m simply not hungry yet and I don’t really love eating something when I’m not in the mood.

Cold! Brrrrr!!!

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I live in the South for a reason. Cold and I do not get along. I curse the mornings when I pull up to the running path and see a temperature starting in a 4 (or a 3 like this morning!!!) waiting for me outside of my heated car. I then get to spend two hours in those temperatures, just to come home and…

Ice Bath

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Like my blue “frozen” picture? Winking smile Whoever crafted this idea is a) a genius because, boy, do they work! And b) evil because they are like cruel and unusual punishment.

The Crazy Appetite

Directly after a long run, it takes me a good hour to really want to eat. I know I need to refuel, however, so I yet again find myself force-feeding at least a little something. Then, a few hours later, I am like a ravenous beast let out into the wild. It’s insane!

Wait, I take that back. The appetite may just be one of my favorite parts of long runs. What can I say? I like to eat.

Despite these few things, I sure do love long runs. And I’m happy that I have a few more to do for my SECOND half coming a few weeks later. Then…who knows what may come next! Smile

  • What’s your FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE part of your workouts?

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45 Comments to “Love ‘Em And Leave ‘Em”
  1. I love coming home after a hard workout or long run feeling accomplished & in total live with the whole world (even the screeching kids). Good luck in your half marathon!

  2. I’m with ya! I hate eating when I’m not hungry–especially so early in the morning!

    Favorite/Least Favorites of workouts:
    Getting stronger is my fave, motivating myself to drive to the gym is my least favorite.

  3. My least favorite part used to be the early wake up, but then I got used to it!

    Now, my least favorite part is anything on the elliptical. Which in reality, thinking about my cardio makes it hard for me to get up at 5:30 these days. oops!

  4. Khushboo says:

    I actually love long runs too! I hate the first mile but love the feeling of completion after…and the smugness of walking into work on a Monday morning with X amount of miles under my belt!

  5. I’m heading home to the south next week and it’s supposed to be quite cold…time to bust out the uggs!

    Awesome job on your run…and I just realized you’re signed up for two 1/2’s, I smell an addiction coming on! Welcome to the dark side 😉

  6. Winter is my least favorite time to run – I’d rather be in 90 degree heat!

    I hear you on the non-hunger. I always do a shake after my run since it’s easy to get down.

  7. Even though I dread them sometimes, my favorite part of long runs is just being outside for that extended amount of time and letting my mind wander. The extra food afterwards isn’t so bad either 😉 least favorite? the soreness that comes with them! I still have yet to take an ice bath but with 11 miles on monday planned i think i’m finally going to have to give in. My body starts rebelling after 10.

  8. I don’t run, but those ice baths look like torture!! You’re a brave girl!

  9. Diana says:

    I’m running a half next weekend too! I didn’t realize yours was the same week…twins! 🙂

    On that note, I’m about to go bust out a 10-miler also. I love long runs, they give me time to really think and there’s no pressure on pace – I’m a pretty high-strung person so taking some time to myself to go a little slower is a very, very good thing!

  10. Christy says:

    I just had to run 8 miles this morning for my first half marathon training. It was brutal! The best part was the second wind I got around mile 6.5-7. But the worst part is the aftermath! My knees are absolutely killing me. Should have got some ice, ice packs just don’t seem to cut it.

    Congrats on your long run! You are speedy!

  11. Erica says:

    Ah! So exciting that its so close! I cannot wait to read the recap

  12. Our mornings were so similar! I woke up at 5:30, ate breakfast even though I wasn’t hungry, had a ten mile run in running tights because it was chilly here too (your run was a lot faster than mine 🙂 ), and was famished about an hour after my run! No ice bath…I’m just not brave enough. Great way to start a Saturday!

  13. hmmm…you think you’ll do a marathon next?

    • Tina says:

      Let’s see how the two halves go first. I know I’ll already be addicted to that distance at the very least. 😉

  14. Christelle says:

    My least favorite part is getting up! I’m NOT a morning person, so after I snooze for 30-40 minutes I’m up and forcing myself to eat and get dressed. But I love the way I feel and how better my day seems to be when I run in the morning, which is usually only on the weekends.

    I’d love to somehow train my body to be a morning person so that I can go running before work on weekday mornings!

    Good luck on your coming race!

  15. Yikes, I would not ever get up that early for a long run! But I guess with kids you have a bit of a different situation on your hands 🙂

  16. WootWoot! Congrats on the run! 🙂

  17. Yay! That’s awesome that you’re almost done with your training! My favorite part of my workouts is the way they make me feel great in so many ways- physically, mentally, self-confidence wise, etc. My least favorite part is the acne that I get on my back from sweating!

  18. jobo says:

    Nice job on the run!!!! And an ice bath right now sounds awful since we are getting snow here today. boooo wayyyy too early. I think I need to move 😉

  19. Emma says:

    I still haven’t been able to force myself into an ice bath. Which I am now regretting having fatigued legs a week before the 1/2. Longs run have become my favorite too. Never thought I would say that but it takes me a good 2-3 miles to even warm up. I curse the first two and want to walk, however finally my legs loosen up and I relax. So shorter runs I spend the majority of the time fighting it. 1 week away!

  20. Denise says:

    My least favorite pare is getting there and my most favorite part is the satiffaction of finishing a good workout

  21. You half got here quick didn’t it??? I agree, I have enjoyed the long runs the most as well. for me they became my “me” meditation time. Getting so excited for you and your first half!!

  22. I love long runs during race training too! I missed them over the summer when it was so hot and am so thrilled to be training for a half in December now. But yes..the cold thing…not so much

  23. Jess says:

    I think (hope) I know what’s next!!! 🙂

  24. long runs are my favorite too! I feel so accomplished! I did 9 yesterday in the cold and then did an ice bath too! Haha I was SO ready for a hot shower after that!

  25. Mac says:

    Congrats on the last long run! That’s so exciting! Enjoy your lay low week next week 🙂

  26. I love long runs! I just completed my last half for awhile and don’t really know what I am going to do about that!?!? I pretty much love everything about them though… I don’t know if there is anything I don’t like except maybe when I feel rushed to get somewhere after. I would much rather just lounge around all afternoon 🙂

    So exciting you’ll be doing your 1/2 in just one week!!

  27. The cold gets me, too! I hate waking up early and knowing I have 30mins to 2 hours to spend in the cold running – no fun!

  28. Congrats on finishing your last long run before your half. I love the eating part of training, but I also like getting back into a normal pattern of eating when training is done.
    I’ve never done an ice bath. You don’t think they work? I’m scared of them. 🙂

  29. Hilary says:

    I love the feeling I get after a workout….but the thought of doing it/making myself are the toughest part…mind over matter! And you would NOT survive running up here with me during Canadian winters! Sometimes it’s so cold that the sweat freezes on my face!

  30. I am right there with you on the force feeding ! I hate eating when I do not want to. But running will do that to ya. It’s totally worth it in the end ;D

  31. Amy says:

    Congratulations on your awesome last long run before the half!
    I am the same with the pre/post run eating, although I do kinda love it when the post run appetite kicks in and you know that you deserve every calorie that goes in 🙂
    Good luck next week! I hope you enjoy every single step – you should be so proud of yourself and the journey you have taken 🙂

  32. I love my appetite when I’m training for a race. More food? Okay!!

  33. Coco says:

    I don’t like the post-long-run GI issues that can occurr, but maybe if I was better at pre-run force-feeding my stomach wouldn’t get so mad!

    You’ve been doing so great with your training and races,I hate to give you advice, but this really should be an easy week with no real “speed” workouts–you need your muscles to recover from yesterday, replenish glyocgen stores and get ready for the Ha;f! I also suggest 1-2 solid rest days right before the Half.

    But, I know you will do awesome no matter what!

    • Tina says:

      I already planned to take both Thur and Fri off. I wondered about the speed stuff. It was on the plan (SmartCoach) I’ve been loosely following and I honestly questioned it too. It’s been a fairly conservative plan so far with the regular recovery weeks, so I just thought “okay, I guess”. Thanks for the suggestion because I had wondered about it the week of a race!

  34. Ooh that’s so exciting!
    I’m glad it went so well 🙂
    I know what you mean about forcing yourself to eat breakfast early in the morning when you’re not hungry!
    Good luck with the last of your training, I can’t wait to read all about your first half marathon!

  35. Brr! Good job on the long run in the cold cold weather. I’m from the south too, so when it dips to even the 50s I’m out of sorts! For my long run on Saturday, I didn’t have cold to deal with, but rain. Bah.

  36. I also loved my weekly long runs while I was training… it always felt like such an accomplishment when I reached a new distance. On the other hand, I hated easy runs (they felt like a waste of time) and speed work (too hard!! LOL!). The only downside was not being able to drink alcohol or eat anything too rich/heavy the Friday night before.

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