5 Thoughts from a Long Run

~ Chocolaterunsjudy

I normally run with a group from late spring to early fall. This year I ran with the group for about half that time, and then life got in the way. In past years, I’ve often had to do my longest long run solo because of the Jewish holidays. Not this year, but this time I needed to do it solo because I’ll be heading down to my parents early tomorrow morning for the weekend.

Many of those previous solo runs were run in miserable, humid weather. Sometimes I met up with a friend for a recovery meal. Today is supposed to be beautiful, but I have a ton of stuff to do when I get home, so it’s truly a solo long run.

I’m hooking up with the Friday Five  from Cynthia from You Signed Up for What?, Courtney from Eat Pray Run DC, and Mar from Mar on the Run,  and I’m going to share what I was thinking about on today’s run.

Assuming I can remember

Heck, lately I can barely remember my own name, so this should be interesting.

sundae

I’m not nervous . . .
. . . and that makes me a little nervous.

Okay, this particular thought was before I even got out the door. You know those long runs you expect to be great and turn out disastrous?

Let’s just say I really do expect this to at least be a good long run. The weather is just perfect — please, could I dial up this weather for my half — with just some fluffy clouds thrown in?

Great day for a long run!


Tank or tee?
I woke up to temps in the 40s, y’all (mind you, this was at 5 am). I didn’t start my run until a bit after 9 am.

It was a good chance to try out the free flow tee, though, so I went with it. It was a good choice. Although it did warm up, most of the path I was on was quite shady and it was still quite cool when I started.

I’m sure a tank would have been fine, too, but there were times when I know I would have been a bit chilled.

Choosing the right path
So I’m running along, thinking, why I don’t I run here more often? As I’m running those first 4 miles that are mostly a decline.

And then, of course, I turn around, and it’s 4 miles back uphill.

With another 3 miles afterwards to finish.

Oh yeah, that’s why I don’t run here so much.

Pacing myself
Friends who run with me tell me how steady my pace is. Ha! I’m running along, thinking this is a really good pace, and the next thing I know, I’m running a minute slower.

Or I’m running along, thinking this is such an easy pace, deliberately slow down what I think is a little, and yup, I’m running at least a minute slower. Probably more.

The one thing I was trying for with this long run was essentially negative splits, about a minute slower than what I think race pace might be. Except for that last mile — that I allowed to be a cool down (and man, did I slow down!).

Oh, I also briefly checked my settings before I started. I thought I had to change something from my last run. My run/walk was 2 minutes/30 seconds, okay, that’s what I want it to be, I’m good to go and I start.

And then I reach half a mile and realize I still have it set up to autolap at every half mile . . . so much for pacing myself! And talk about a pain having it vibrate 22 times on the run . . .

Refueling — #runnerproblems


Maybe I ought to train for a marathon . . .
So I could eat the above more often. I treat myself with a brownie sundae after my longest long run (if it’s not cold or Guptils isn’t closed).  It usually works out to once or twice a year. Believe it or not, the above is the small size (and no, I didn’t finish it).

Although in the end it actually wasn’t what I wanted. I think a soft pretzel from Auntie Annes might have been better. Oh well, sometimes you have to throw yourself on the brownie sundae.

Although I need to be careful — I lost a few pounds because of all the stress lately (unlikely I’ll keep it off long) — but today I was reminded how good it feels to run at a lighter weight. A weight I haven’t seen in a good 20 years, by the way.

Talk to me. Leave a comment or answer a question:

What was your latest gadget fail?

Sweet or salty after a long run — or both?

Do you know what  your “racing weight” is?

31 thoughts on “5 Thoughts from a Long Run”

  6. My Garmin sometimes switches to miles feet and I don’t notice it. It leaves me feeling even slower 😀
    I’m definitely into salty. I am still figuring out my racing weight, but it feels like I’m closing in, loved the book on the topic by Matt Fitzgerald.

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    1. I know I could — at least I think I could (not sure my body would hold up to it); I’m just not sure I want to.

      What I really want is to eat as if I were training for one without actually training for one. 😏

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  8. I thought I commented but it’s not here so I repeat.

    Sweet. Definitely. Pastry or Ice Cream.

    I’ve had a dead battery during races but I don’t use my Garmin during runs so no gadget fails.

    I have no idea what my weight is nevermind my racing weight. Don’t have a scale. I used to care a lot but as I’ve gotten older. Not so much. I know I am heavier since I started running because my clothes don’t fit. C’est la vie! I’d rather run than be thinner/

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    1. What’s wrong with being thinner AND running? 😏

      I’m never going to be model thin but I’m definitely at a good weight got me right now. Not sure I’ll hold onto it not it would be nice. Really nice!

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      1. You always look good.

        I like to eat and life’s too short to stress about weight. Now if I gained 20 lbs…well maybe I’d freak. (hmm I wonder if I have…)

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      2. Ah, but you see, I have gained & lost 40 lbs multiple times in my life. Part of why my skin is so saggy (obviously not the whole story).

        It isn’t fun to be 40 lbs overweight, I assure you, especially when you’re as short as I am.

        I’m really happy with my weight right now. I know it’ll go up during the winter, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with it the next couple of months. I’d love to hold onto this weight for my upcoming half.

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  9. After a long run protein only!
    I am always amazed at how much better i feel a few pounds lighter. I woke up four pounds lighter after my tummy bug. I know I won’t keep that off LOL but it sure is nice even for a few minutes.
    I totally agree a few pounds can make a huge difference in running.
    We haven’t been anywhere near 40’s yet, not even out of the 60’s. I wish it would happen!

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    1. When you’re vertically challenged like us, even a couple of pounds can make a huge difference! I don’t really expect to stay this weight, so much of it was stress & barely having time to eat.

      You’ll see 40s at some point! And then we’ll complain about being too cold, of course!

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  10. I don’t know how to use all the functions on my watch so it doesn’t fail very often. Injuries have me gaining weight and it’s very frustrating. And I love salty and/or dark chocolate after a long run (and just about any time else).

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    1. Who doesn’t love salty & dark chocolate?

      My fitness has been a bit curtailed from circumstances lately; but eating truly is 90% of the battle when it comes to maintaining my weight.

      All the stress has me losing weight. 😦 Not that I didn’t want to lose a few pounds, but there are better ways!

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      2. I think nutrition is the weakest part for most of us!

        Which weekend are you doing the training course? The 21st? I probably won’t be here then.

        The 28th, I live very close to the thruway. Just sayin’.

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  11. I don’t run far enough to need anything to eat after a run and on my low carb diet and aerobic runs only I don’t feel hungry. If I do I have a full fat plain yoghurt or some cheese.
    Matt fitzgeralds racing weight is an interesting read, people with less fat run faster! I’ve got my body fat down ftom 35% to 25% (☺️☺️) so I’m hoping that when I introduce a bit more speed work I will find that I can go faster😊

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      1. I confess I’m thrilled that mine has come down. At first I seemed to lose weight but no fat, now the fat is coming down. I think it’s mostly gone off my boobs though!😟

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  12. I never think about racing weight, but I am lucky and my weight does not fluctuate a lot. As far as gadgets, I am nervous about my Garmin at the moment. It does not seem to be holding it’s charge for as long as usual….hopefully it is not a big problem.

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