Long run advice? (Read 963 times)

Relax and run at an easy pace. Most important to cover the distance the first time you extend your long run. 8 miles is enough to bring water or gatorade if the temp is above 80F. FWIW, I took a picture VERY similar to the one in your avatar in India last year. http://public.fotki.com/dgb2n/india-2007/imgp2009.html

Hey Lakerunner... how did it go?

Manage the effort you're putting out, let the pace fall where it may.

Exactly-That's what I do. I leave with no predetermined pace, just an attitude that I want to cover the distance and still be running by the end. The pace is what it is.

I know you already did your run, but there are 2 very important (at least for me) things to do for long runs. 1) Poop before I go out the door. 2) Make sure I have my baggie of baby-wipes, just in case.

I always break my long runs down into pieces mentally and focus solely on getting through once portion at a time. A portion might be 2, 3, 4 or miles depending on how far I'm running, or from one landmark to another. Either way, try not to think about the entire distance as one big lump, because that can get intimidating.

I do this, too. I break up my long runs into thirds or quarters or something like that. Much easier mentally to think about a few miles at a time than all of it at once.

I always tell myself that if I make it half the way, then I the rest of the run is as good as done. It's a game I play with myself but it is kinda true since I have to get back home. Hope it went well!

It didn't go well. You know that feeling you get about 2 miles in when you've loosened up and just kind of go? That didn't happen and I kind of knew then it was going to be a crappy run. I waited until too late in the am, the sun was beating down on me and I ran out of water 5 miles in. I stopped at the town park for more water at mile six and just didn't have it after that. I'll just learn from this and try again in a couple of weeks or so. What I learned: 1. Start earlier in the am to avoid the heat and sun. 2. Hydrate better before running so I don't drink it all in the first 5 miles. 3. Don't focus on the whole, just break it down into small sections and run those. 4. Don't make your first run in new running shoes the long run. (They felt great though!) Thanks for all your tips - I'm sure I'll get that 8 mile run in before the end of August. I'm headed for the Caribbean next week so it'll have to wait. I'll be at a research station in the rainforest and I'm not sure I'll be able to run much there. If I can though, I be out there with a machete cutting myself a path as I run.