I love to run. I particularly love to run when it takes me less than an hour.
And I love to run races, particularly half marathons.
But for some reason, I dread the “long run.” I do an absolutely amazing job of psyching myself out about it.
“I can’t go that far”.
“It’s going to hurt.”
“It takes too long.”
Yada, yada, yada.
But I choose to run these distances. No one is MAKING me. No one really cares if I manage 13 half marathons in 2013. In fact, I’m sure Beer Geek would be happy if I stopped spending money on races.
So, I remind myself it’s just one step at a time. And those steps add up to tenths. And those tenths add up to miles.
Next thing you know, you’ve run 8 miles on an absolutely gorgeous fall day.
Take that, brain, I CAN run that far. And I even enjoyed it.
Now to remember that next week when I head for double digits…
I hear ya! After this weekend, 5ks are sounding more and more fun (don’t ever remdind me that I said this, I know deep down in my heart they are hard.)
Nice job on 8 miles!
I’d love a nice, temperate fall day! Enjoy.
I’ve been dreading my long runs for the last few weeks because I’m right at the pointy end of marathon training. Tomorrow I’ve got a 37k scheduled and for the first time I’m not dreading it. Maybe because it’s my last or maybe because I know I can do it even though it’s going to hurt by the end. It’s just one step at a time.
ha ha. I’m the same way.
And I KNOW my husband would like it if I stopped spending money on races. Half marathon #10 is Sunday. (#11-#13 are already paid for. I’ll be done with this crazy goal by Halloween. Whew!)
You can do it!
Awesome job! Just keep going!
Happy Runnings!
I don’t mean this in a negative way, especially since everything is relative, but it’s always funny to me when we runners are at that point in training when 8 miles is a “long” run.
yea sometimes I wonder if I should just give up the gym membership and pay for 13 race fees in one year…eh…
Good for you! keep it up!!
So true… For awhile, I would get worried, stressed, and anxious with dread over my long runs. Eventually I told myself that I just had to knock it off – because the anxiety and lost sleep weren’t worth it. If I couldn’t keep the stress under control, then I’d just have to stick with 5 and 10Ks. Magically, the threat worked. Nowadays, apart from making sure I eat enough the day before a long run, I don’t worry too much about it until I’m strapping on my hydration pack – and by that time, I’m more excited than anything else – and know the run is just hours from being over anyway!
Thanks, I really needed this motivation to start training for my half. Found you via the Beltway Bloggers list, love finding other DC area bloggers! http://talenttoplay.blogspot.com