The Long Run

Long Run

If you have ever been on a long training run, you know the feeling that occurs when your body gets in "sync". I'm talking about the feeling of being able to go and go and go.

Not all long runs start out that way. Often it can be a struggle to get started. If you're tired, aching, sore, exhausted, burned out, or whatever, it can be a chore to even decide to start a run.

Trust me, I've been there.

I also know that once you get over that feeling of not being in the mood for a run and simply decide to put one foot in front of the other, you'll be glad you did. Once you get yourself in motion to move, your body adjusts to the new demands. It's one of those things that if you've done it enough, you know by the time you're finished with your run, you're going to feel great.

There's nothing like a great long distance run to get your heart pumping and make you feel energized. That's right - feeling more alive when you finish then when you started.

Here's a few ideas to make it easy for you to get in that long training run

- First, commit to a set time that you decide to run. The best is if you can run the same time every day. Some people like first thing in the morning (I do, it makes me feel like I have accomplished something by running first thing in the morning).

- Second, leave your running clothes and shoes out where you can't miss them. If you have second thoughts about not going for that long run, you'll at least have to move your clothes if you decide to not take the run. Just a little psychological trick to remind yourself that you have decided to stick to a schedule.

- Third, start your run easy, I mean really easy. Even start by walking. If you ease into a run and let your body acclimate to the movement of running, you'll quickly get into the "groove". If you start off to hard, you'll never really get a chance to ease into that groove.

- Fourth, run where it's beautiful. If you are on a long distance run, there is no reason not to enjoy the scenery. Let's not kid ourselves, we're all human beings and we can enjoy a beautiful forest or sunset or beach. You might like running through downtown or through the corn fields or on the track. Go where you enjoy running.

Monitor yourself. Are you feeling good? Keep track of your heart rate. If you have a heart rate monitor, set the heart monitor to beep if your heart rate goes above of below a certain threshold. If you find yourself struggling to run, then ease off until you are back in a comfortable heart rate zone. This goes back to starting a run off easy so your body can get in sync with your efforts.

Finally, put an effort into your run. A good solid sprint or fartlek or interval in the middle of a long run can do wonders for the rest of the run. Once you have made a good solid effort after you have properly warmed up, backing off to your regular pace will seem like a breeze.

There you have it, some ideas for enjoying a long distance training run.