My thoughts about Long Runs

It has been a while I have updated my training blog and shared how it is going with my marathon training. I continued the training as planned; I have done my three runs per week, cross-trained, played some tennis in between and not forgotten to stretch. But somehow the coming home from holidays and return to the office, reworking the daily routine again has taken more effort than I expected and I have felt really tired the last couple of weeks. So tired that I just did not have the energy to update my blog.

I have lengthened my long runs now up to 27 km and when I really was suffering after 17k in my first long runs, I can now comfortably do the whole training as planned. I am surprised how easy it feels physically and by now I am convinced that anything after 30k at the marathon is mental. I am convinced on that as I realise it on my own training, when I leave the house mentally strong (compared to the days when I felt lazy/tired/not motivated), I finish the training also as planned if not faster or easier. I realise it during the runs when I remind myself to stay strong instead of feeling sorry for myself, I do stay strong and feel comfortable to continue. 

Still I have not concluded if I in general like the long runs. I don't hate them, which is good. I don't love them either which is not surprising. I surely tolerate them to the level I feel comfortable leaving the house with the running belt full of liquids and energy gels. There are moments when I really enjoy the tiredness in the muscles after 20k and I am proud my legs are still carrying me on, but on the other side I am sometimes so bored to go for another 15k or just can't find one good reason why I should spend whole Sunday morning on the road. So meanwhile I figure out what to think of those long runs, I am really glad and proud of the charity funding which keeps me going on those moments of doubt and that I have so many dear people around me supporting my project!

Training plans and the reality of life

The last couple of weeks have been quite hectic first with last days of work before holidays and then roadtripping through Scandinavia for holidays. After all the enthusiasm and excitement how well the training is going, it has been really hard to stick to my training plan and feel great about it. I have done most of my runs, some of them between work, packing and after work party or others before full day of fooling around in Legoland -but most important to me is that I have done them.

Then the quilt became as I missed the one training I had optimistically planned for the weekend when my lovely little nephew's babtises was. Even though it was clear to me where the priority was that weekend I was surprised to see how I felt almost a panic to miss one training as I did not know how to balance it back. First I thought just to continue from it as soon as possible and catch up track in the coming weeks however eventually I decided to completely skip it, have an additional 40 min run this week the day after the tempo run and most importantly, to be in ease with it.

It does not seem like a big deal at the moment, but for me it was the lesson to remind myself how important it is not to be too focused on the plan and to be able to look beyond it. I am sure this will not ruin my marathon project and I will have plenty of time and kilometres ahead to be ready for the run. 

Reality check

I must say after my great runs last weeks, I was hoping if not expecting the success to continue. Well I can tell you there are no two weeks alike and after the sunshine comes the rain, or whatever. There was no rain though, but serious reality check to remind me that this project is not going to be easy.

Sunday morning I headed for the long run, looking forward to see how it goes this time. Instead of going flat along Weser, I decided to head up to the hills instead. Whether it was the additional altitude but after 23 km and 2h10min, I could conclude my body is made to run 18-19 km and anything beyond that hurts. Not just a little bit but seriously to make me consider to stop. And considering that it is just about the half way of the marathon, it feels a bit scary. I know the point of long runs is to get your body used to the purpose, still if the Sunday's experience is going to repeat the next 18 weeks, I will have a challenge to motivate myself to head out of the door.

At the positive side, my morning run routine is going well and I begin to enjoy the early morning runs with fresh air hearing only birds singing (and neighbours rooster) and slowly waking up my muscles. I'm certainly not fast that time of the day, but it feels good. I need to get the tempo a bit higher, but I'm sure it comes. I included also some hill training this week and despite that it is hard, I like it. 

So all in all, it wasn't that bad training week. I only need to find a way to lenghten my runs beyond 20k and it will be just fun.