Overcoming Long Run Boredom

After a few really long runs under my belt, I have gotten better at handling the *boredom factor*. I list a few top things that make the long runs workable, especially for me as I run solo:

1) Carry a fresh supply of running podcasts. These are lifesavers. While I occasionally listen to music, the music does not get me through a long run. The running podcasts do! I really appreciate the efforts of those making the podcasts and occasionally extend a note of "Thanks" on Twitter.

2) Choose a different route each week. For the last two long runs, I chose routes after looking on Google Earth and just measuring some distances from one road to the next. Yesterday's route is shown in this picture. I drove a couple miles from my house to a local school and went out and back. I purposely chose roads that were not heavily traveled and I made sure I had an ample mix of dirt roads. For this 20 mile route, about half the miles were asphalt (some quite rough, though) and half on dirt roads (a bit sandy or muddy at times). I am sure if I run the same route next week, it would again become a boredom issue. So, I have already begun to scan Google Earth for possibilities.

3) Carry a fuel belt with Gatorade, GU Chomps, Bandaids, and Toilet Paper. These need no explanation, but I should explain a little. Prior to carrying the belt, I would choose routes that required me to come by my vehicle every few miles to replenish. I also wanted to make sure there was a decent bathroom available within reason. As a result, my routes were in more commercialized areas. With the fuel belt, I no longer worry about hydration and energy, and my chosen routes offer many wooded areas to sneak a potty break.

So, that's about it! In three easy steps, I have overcome the long run boredom. I look forward to my next route and don't mind driving a few miles to start it off in a very different location. I have only one more 20 mile run to go, then it's two more weekends of tapering "long runs" before I take on my first marathon.

Long Run Boredom

As my first marathon nears, my long runs have become progressively longer. This past Saturday, I conquered 18 miles in the rain along a 1.8 mile walking trail loop. Doing the math, that makes 10 laps around that trail. I recalled just one year ago, I was on the same trail trying to build up the long runs for my first half-marathon. I remember how difficult it was for me to work up to 9, then 10, then a final 12 mile long run before tapering.

Now, fast forward a year, and I am again finding it difficult to creep the miles up to 16, then 18, then a final 20 mile run (or hopefully two). It is interesting that today, a 10 or 12 mile run seems quite simple to me. I don't mind grinding through the uncharted waters as I move up in the miles. My question that can be answered by those that have been there is this: Do the 16 - 20 mile runs become simpler "mentally" once you have done them a few times? Since my 10 -12 mile runs are a piece of cake after doing so many of them this past year, is it likely that the 16 - 20 mile runs will be the same once I get a few in the bag?

I run my long runs solo since there are no other runners to share the monatany. Right now, I don't really "enjoy" the 16-18 mile long runs. I don't have any real physical problem running them at my nice slow pace, but the mental boredom is definitely there. I do listen to running podcasts for the entire run. They are definitely my long run lifesaver. If I am to have a desire to continue running marathons after this first one, I feel like the long runs will have to become something much more accommodating mentally just like was the case after many 10-12 mile runs. That's going to be the key to me making it to a second marathon.