How do you get yourself motivated for a (really) long run?

[tuggyruns]

Sorry, I promise I'll stop with all the (slightly) whiny posts after this weekend! 

I've been slightly on the edge of running burnout for a few weeks, weather, stress from work/selling my house/moving/niggle in my leg have all been contributing factors. Tomorrow is my last super long run (20) before my taper, and I'm super not motivated for the first 10 by myself. I've DWL some new tunes, but do you ladies have any other great ways to motivate yourself when you really don't want to get out there and run?

[chitownbelle]

Oh, the 20 mile run, how I don't miss you. Well, you've got the last 10 with someone then? I don't even remember how I mentally prepped...I was always miserable thinking about it, but then once I started the run, I just eased into it, and it was another run. My last 20 was a huge group run, so that helped. It's always hard alone.... you are mentally tough, and you can do it. I've been in your place, as many of us have, with the insane amount of stress and injury and poor timing of it all, including buying a home, so just consider this run your outlet for all of that. Relax and enjoy it, and get in your comfort zone so you can enjoy your taper and positively prepare for race day. Good luck

[Susie]

I don't do 20 mile runs but I have helped some of my faster friends with theirs by doing a leg with them. When one of my friends did a 20 miler this fall, we had a whole relay of a couple us that covered her 20. (I could hang pace-wise because I only had to do 5.) Do you have any other friends who can help you with the first 10 or part of it?

I would feel dumb asking for help like that with my longest runs (13-14) but it would totally psych me up knowing people were with or waiting for me.

[tuggyruns]

Feb 7, 2014 15:59:49 GMT -5 chitownbelle said:

Oh, the 20 mile run, how I don't miss you. Well, you've got the last 10 with someone then? I don't even remember how I mentally prepped...I was always miserable thinking about it, but then once I started the run, I just eased into it, and it was another run. My last 20 was a huge group run, so that helped. It's always hard alone.... you are mentally tough, and you can do it. I've been in your place, as many of us have, with the insane amount of stress and injury and poor timing of it all, including buying a home, so just consider this run your outlet for all of that. Relax and enjoy it, and get in your comfort zone so you can enjoy your taper and positively prepare for race day. Good luck

I'm glad I'm not the only one that stresses out thinking about my last long run. I wish I could run with my group, but at this point, I'm just trying to take it slow and easy and my group is anything but...so I coerce my sister into running the back half of my runs with me.



Thank for talking me through it!

[chitownbelle]

glad she will be there with you! I mentally break my runs up into quarters or something...5mi usually on my 20's. So you get to 10, see her, jump up and down, hug her, yay, halfway done, ONLY 10 to go. IDK where you live, but hopefully the weather is decent enough. I haven't run outside since November?

[tuggyruns]

Feb 7, 2014 16:04:23 GMT -5 Susie said:

I don't do 20 mile runs but I have helped some of my faster friends with theirs by doing a leg with them. When one of my friends did a 20 miler this fall, we had a whole relay of a couple us that covered her 20. (I could hang pace-wise because I only had to do 5.) Do you have any other friends who can help you with the first 10 or part of it?

I would feel dumb asking for help like that with my longest runs (13-14) but it would totally psych me up knowing people were with or waiting for me.

I thought about this. Several of the people I run with regularly are doing 15 tomorrow morning, but I am worried that it will be too fast for me. I really need to take it at my own pace. Other than my running group friends, my other friends would look at me like a 10 headed billy goat if I asked them to A. get up at 6am and B. Run. That is, without being chased.  

I'm super psyched that my sister is waiting for me after 10, but it's all so daunting, esp since it was 17 degrees when I started running last time and just brutally cold. I guess I could look at it as it will feel balmy this time being a whole 20 degrees warmer!  

[runaways]

Honestly, at some point, it stops being about motivation and it becomes about just getting it done. 20 miles is such a long distance that you can't really think about being done the way you can with 5 or even 10 miles, you just have to go out and start running. And keep running. You can do it!

[tuggyruns]

Feb 7, 2014 16:17:55 GMT -5 runaways said:

Honestly, at some point, it stops being about motivation and it becomes about just getting it done. 20 miles is such a long distance that you can't really think about being done the way you can with 5 or even 10 miles, you just have to go out and start running. And keep running. You can do it!

So true. I guess it doesn't help that I am stuck behind my computer all day with a lot of time to think about it. And check the weather. Repeatedly.

[kams]

Honestly, the only thing that really motivates me is that I don't want to bomb a race.

[Deleted]

Audiobooks. They are a lifesaver for long runs for me.

For long runs. I need to make myself feel excited. Instead of dreading it, I need to tell myself "You get to listen to your book for hours!", "You're going to feel so awesome and accomplished after!" "You get to enjoy lots of fresh air/beautiful sights/whatever is in your area!".

During the run, I imagine crossing the finish line at the marathon and how I will feel.

[mrshandy]

I ran a completely new route for my 20 miler. It really provided a good distraction since I was focused on looking at all the new sites.

[thom]

I think you are quite smart to take it slow & easy alone. That is a good strategy for your 20, and having to do it alone will help with the mental challenges you'll face during the marathon. I've had good & bad 20 milers, so here's what I'll add for advice.

-Make sure you have enough water & fuel.

-Try not to think so much about the distance or where you're at until you're several hours in. The number one thing that really bums me out is when I start thinking about having X number of hours left to run. So don't psych yourself out like I do.

- Be willing to stop & take off a layer if you're too hot, or circle back by your house for another jacket or gloves if you're too cold. I've made some runs really miserable by trying to tough it out in the wrong gear for too long.

Good luck!

Is it bad that I'm trying to get motivated for 10-11 tomorrow?? The main problem is weather looks like about 10 below zero. So.. It's either TM, lots of layers, or wait & hope I can squeeze it in on Sunday afternoon. The main problem with that temp & long distance is my water freezes too quick. I don't really have to have water for that distance, but it's preferable...

[cinco]

I'm doing my first 20 of the training cycle tomorrow. I am thinking about switching to the Hanson plan so I can skip this shit. It won't be as bad as the anticipation!

[thom]

Feb 7, 2014 17:45:58 GMT -5 @canadiandrone said:

Audiobooks...

During the run, I imagine crossing the finish line at the marathon and how I will feel.

Yes and yes. Love audio books, and I totally imagine myself at the marathon while running in training.

[thom]

Feb 7, 2014 18:22:13 GMT -5 cinco said:

I'm doing my first 20 of the training cycle tomorrow. I am thinking about switching to the Hanson plan so I can skip this shit. It won't be as bad as the anticipation!

Hahaha! If only I could run the Hanson volume, I'd be thrilled to top out at 15-16.

[tuggyruns]

Thanks ladies! Really needed this ESP after my sister JUST bailed on me....for the SECOND weekend in a row. Looks like I am completely on my own for this one. :/

All of your awesome pep talks actually have me excited though...now off to find my fuel in the moving boxes somewhere...

[sadlebred]

No advice, but good luck with it and have fun!

[trigal]

I love running, so that's my motivation. I rarely did long runs with other people. I never run with music. Just being out there is comforting and calming to me. Sounds corny, but if I thought of it as a chore, I wouldn't do it. In other words, it's not something I HAVE to do. It's something I WANT to do.

[tuggyruns]

Feb 8, 2014 9:27:24 GMT -5 trigal said:

I love running, so that's my motivation. I rarely did long runs with other people. I never run with music. Just being out there is comforting and calming to me. Sounds corny, but if I thought of it as a chore, I wouldn't do it. In other words, it's not something I HAVE to do. It's something I WANT to do.

I do too. I think I am just really burnt out right now. This is now my third training cycle and the FIRST one that I have made it through without injury. Add selling my house, moving, and crazy work stuff right now, it's a recipe for not being able to focus on anything- I feel like I don't have time for LIFE in general. Funny, because before, running was my refuge. I think I will def be taking a break from long distance training after this.

 

[tuggyruns]

THANK YOU for all of the support ladies, y'all are awesome. I made it through my 20, completely uneventfully, and even added some nasty hills to the run for fun. NAPA- get ready- I'm coming for real this time!

[cinco]

Yay! Enjoy your well deserved taper!

[thom]

So awesome!! I knew you'd do well today. Happy taper time.