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

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!!!

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

Like my blue “frozen” picture? 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!

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

Good morning! Did you all have a fabulous weekend? I sure hope so! We had a great time around here. Although, exhausting!

I kicked off the weekend with one of my final long runs before Savannah. That means in less than TWO WEEKS I will be running my first half marathon!!!!! 

The run went really well. I did 12 uneventful miles.

Uneventful is a wonderful thing. I dressed well enough for the weather so I didn’t die of cold in the 40 degree weather (go ahead and mock me, you Northerners!). I kept a steady pace. I had no pain and didn’t battle any mental walls to finish. I just trod along until I finished and it felt fab-u-LOUS.

The only downside I had was that I think I tied my shoes too tight. The top of my right foot hurt – no stabbing pain, just tender – for the rest of the day and part of Sunday. So, odd.

Do note, however, that running 12 miles and then having to turn around right away to prep and throw a toddler birthday party is no small task. I had just enough downtime for breakfast, an ice bath, and a shower, before I had to break into party mode for the birthday girl.

I didn’t have too much to do because I managed to pick the perfect snacking arrangement. We had:

Flower Cheese Crackers (wheat thins with cheese cutouts using a mini flower cookie cutter and finished off with a mini pepperoni)

Fruit & Pink Dip (berry Chobani Champions yogurt with grapes + strawberries)

Princess Party Mix (random assortment of kid loves – popcorn, pretzels, and pastel colored marshmallows)

Spinach & Artichoke Dip (my mom’s special dip she offered to bring – OH. YUM!)

It turned into the perfect spread for the perfect birthday party day at the park.

The kids snacked, ran around, and fed the ducks.

Then, came time for the special cake!!! Sadly, I didn’t get a great shot of it…but it was a princess with a cake dress made to look like Belle’s on top of a cake “stage”.

Makenzie was in love. Go figure.  

All in all, it was a perfect party and I had such a great time! But, man, it wiped me out! I literally crawled into bed right after laying the kids down. Then, promptly slept for ten hours straight. Oh, how I would love to sleep ten hours every night!

• What was the most tiring thing you did this weekend? And, then…what was the most relaxing?
• What is your favorite kind of dip? Mine is my mom’s spinach & artichoke dip by far!!! I ate two very hefty servings on Saturday and wish I had more!