WORKOUT -
Ran Back Bay -
21 miles/2:49
1 mile cooldown walk to car
I love running, but I’ve been dreading long runs lately.
I’d much rather run a marathon race than have a scheduled 20 miler hanging over my head.
But with Chicago coming up, I need to get some 20 mile time on my feet so the alarm was set for 5:15am this morning so I could be running the Back Bay Loop in Newport around 6ish.
{No, that’s not a construction site or a meth lab, just our jank backyard. It’s got its’ own set of issues}
I finished the first hour at an average 8:06 pace and the second hour was the exact same. I double backed to my car and refueled while changing my outfit. It was so overcast that I didn’t wear sunglasses, but it was really muggy and I was soaked with sweat.
Don’t you hate when your shorts or skirt are completely wet and bunching and doing the inner thigh creep with sweat dripping down your legs?
On that happy note, let’s move on.
I hit mile 17 and started struggling. I was physically tired which started the mental battle that lasted for the last 4 miles…
Slow down, let up, give up, take a break, walk up this hill, stop here.
It was a step-by-step battle, but I kept telling myself to suck it up and suffer through it.
Sorry to the reader who called my name out and I barely managed a half wave. I was at mile 19.5 and waging a major head war. I promise I’m not that rude… most of the time.
I finished with a 7:08 mile that I barely survived and averaged 8:02 pace for the run. Great, I just need to knock off about 45 second per mile for 5 more miles on top of that. That won’t be hard at all, right? awh crap.
Today I sported my new custom Nikes. I’m in love with color fading and want to do it to everything I own… obviously starting with my roots.
Now I’m going out to a blogger dinner and tomorrow we’re going camping! or glamping, really. I mean, we are in SoCal… we might as well take our helicopter too.
This is how we do.
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
Uugggghhhhhh. I have to do 20 for Chicago this weekend. I keep trying to rationalize my way out of it, but nope. 2 x 20 milers makes up for hardly any other long runs, right??
I just did the Chicago half! I’ll be WATCHING the marathon..hehe. I hope I see you!
I’m dreading my long training run in the morning, the heat down here in Florida is so unbearable! And I know what you mean about the inner thigh ride up/rub, that’s why I started wearing the capris haha. Have fun glamping!
Yes! I hate when skirts do that too! Soo gross. Worst is when it captures in race photos!
I’m excited that you’re running Chicago! I just signed up to volunteer at one of the water stations, I think around mile 11 or so.
Good luck with the rest of your training, congrats on crossing a long one of your list!
Nice run SR. That’s a rough one
I like the way you go camping!! lol
Sounds like it was super crazy muggy out there considering you had to change in the middle. I’ve been used to this San Francisco weather where it’s always in the 60′s and breezy.
Love the way you described that feeling when you begin the mental battle. Finishing in 7:08 is incredible!
Congrats on powering through your run! I did 18 last Saturday and the last 4 miles were the death of me as well. I legit felt — and even worse — looked hungover the next day from my run. Not good.
On an unrelated note, I’m quite shocked your sis-in-law hasn’t shaved that ‘stache in ur brother’s sleep! I must admit, I love his perseverance, though.
atta girl, give your self a pat on the back.
LOVE the shoes, I think I need a new pair.
CHI-town, going to visit my son, can’t hardly wait…will waive, don’t be rude…jkjkjk
I can’t absolutely do long runs solo! Without cutting it short. Like really short. Your motiovation and tenacity is amazing.
SR- funny you mentioned that you compared your LR pace with your goal marathon pace, do you buy that one must run LR slow to build endurance? I don’t know if 8:02 is an easy pace for you, because it’s near death pace for me :p
ive always thought that more miles you can get under your belt at GMP (goal marathon pace), the better but i know they do say to go slower on long runs.
after successfully becoming a jogger about 6 months ago, i’m now trying to pick up my speed. tonight i did a ton of squats and lunges, and then thought it would be fun to go for a mile run… right. i was literally saying outloud “keep. going. do. not. stop.” so now all my neighbors think i’m bonkers fo sho.
i think tiny backpacks on tiny children are hilarious and so cute!
Your brother kind of looks like the Lorax with that stache of his
Your brother reminds me of the Lorax…lol
The way you camp, is the way I would like to camp.
You are strong, girl! Way to not give in to the voices telling you to quit!
I have never thought about changing in the middle of a run, though it does make fashion and comfort sense. If I went back to my car at mile 16, chances are I’d stay there and not go back to finish the final 5 miles.
i can’t get over how flippin’ fast you are!
Your nephews are too freaking cute. Love the backpacks.
I feel like if I stopped to change clothes mid-20miler I’d just be like “screw it, I’ll be done.” I usually wear compression shorts on long runs, so, even if they’re soaked, they don’t bunch up or get uncomfortable. They are a b**ch to get off afterwards, though.
Yay for Chicago!
Your nephew is so cute on his first day of kindergarten! My son also started kindergarten this year and I cried like a baby!
You give me so much motivation!!! I think I have accomplished something if I get a 5 mile run in!!!
And yes I hate that bunching up feeling!! I live in KY, home of humidity!!!! But thankfully it is cooling up here, this weekend highs in lower 70s!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
And I was complaining about 10 miles the other day… way to go!
I just can’t wrap my brain around running 20 miles and the fact that you averaged an 8:02 pace BLOWS. MY. MIND. I’ve yet to attempt a full marathon (I’m having far too much fun with the half marathon distance) and I think it’s mostly because I dread the time suck of training for one. It WILL happen for me one day though! Hats off to you for not only running your scheduled training run, but for doing it at 5:oo a.m.!
Good job on the 20 miler, and great pace!
Hope you have fun camping…and wouldn’t that be a super cool camping set up?? All you would need is a butler
Every time you post anything about suffer throught he mind games of running it helps me out. Its good to know that even very seasoned runners still have to work through the schizo mind battles that go on during a run.
I am in awe of anyone that can go out and run 20 miles at will. Every runner has fought that mental battle, no matter what their mileage or pace. Good job on embracing the suck!
The Kidless Kronicles
So if I wanted to buy some meth from you should I just shoot you an email?
yes but only to my business account email.
i take all forms of credit or cashiers check and guarantee next day shipping.
I never thought I would say this – but since being sidelined with a baby injury two weeks ago I am JEALOUS of your 20 miler! Yes, I said it. Jealous of multiple hours spent running and it being muggy and sweaty and gross. Not jealous of shorts creep-up though. That is the worse!
Great job!… your perseverance consistently motivates me… and… where are you going GLAMPING?… I”m not gonna stalk you, (promise), just have been searching for an option such as this for me & hubby to go to…..
Whew! You’re a speed demon girl! Good luck in Chicago, I know you’ll do great!
Did you see the episode of real housewives of oc where they went glamping at el capitan in sb?? my roommate and i used to run the hills there when we were in college and it made me miss it so bad. the episode was hilarious though
heck yeah i saw it! when i was googling “glamping” i first googled the rhoc.
We have had crazy, crazy humidity here in AZ too. All my long runs have been a struggle for this AZ girl. Humidity is a pace killer for sure. Way to struggle through it.
Where is that black and white striped pull over from in the picture above? So cute!
its from victorias secret clearance.
Thanks!
Completely unrelated to this but oh so related to your life. I had to share: https://www.livingsocial.com/events/457920-pickle-palooza-admission-for-one
Don’t you wish you lived in New York? Or are you going to find a race to get you here just for this?
Don’t be discouraged by your time. You are an awesome inspiration to us, slow pokes. Any tips on how to keep your toe nails from falling off? I went up a half size in shoes and I still have the problem. Is it too many miles too fast? Thanks!
What a champion!