I really love long runs. I look forward to them. I love the quiet hours out on the road by myself listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks or even just being alone with my thoughts. I love watching the miles tick by, I especially love when I reach the halfway point and know I am on the downhill slide.
I did 22 miles and at the exact same pace I did it last week with an average of 8:59 minute Next week am going to take it easy with a long run of 10 miles, after that I build back up to 22 and then it will be taper time! I will get to experience marathon taper madness. I am strangely excited to see what it is all about. I do reserve the right to change my mind about it.
45 days is going to go by so fast! I feel ready. I wish I would have been able to find a marathon close by that was happening a lot sooner.
Check out this awesome blue sky today. Cola got to chase deer, antelope and birds. I think he had a great run too.
I am loving my new Garmin Forerunner 210. It took a little bit to get used to and I am still adjusting. It is so different from the 305. I loved the 305 and found it so easy to use. I am still trying to get used to not being able to see quite as much information on the screen and had a small moment of "I am taking this watch back tomorrow" until I figured out how to program intervals in.It also displays the time like a regular watch when not being used for running. I love the pretty teal color and am still figuring out the buttons and what they do.
I love the shape so much better. The 305 is so bulky and way too big for my little wrist, the 210 is still a little big but fits like a dream compared to the 305. I wish I could put my velcro wrist strap on the 210. Overall I am giving it a thumbs up.
I love how cats curl up in the funniest places and then give you this completely disdainful look when you laugh at them.
Do you look forward to or dread taper time?
How do you feel about long runs?
Is that your cat? So cute! Makes me miss my sweet kitty:) I love long runs especially when I feel good during the whole run. Sounds like a perfect running day:)
ReplyDeleteThat is a great photo and sounds like a great long run!
ReplyDeletewow, where do you live? I would LOVE my long runs too if that was my scenery. I experienced my 1st marathon taper a month ago and it was not fun. I had a huge appetite, felt sluggish and fat because of the reduced running, and had tons of phantom pains. If you start to get taper madness, I recommend googling it and reading articles and stories from other runners. It really helped keep things in perspective for me.
ReplyDelete#1 - I look forward to AND dread taper time all in one fell swoop. I fear I won't be able to keep up with what I worked so hard for by tapering. I also look forward to the break after hammering out so many miles. I'm worn out right now. Slightly injured (IT band issues). My legs are saying "no", but my first full marathon is in 3 weeks. Come hell or high water (or snakes), I am going to cross that finish line.
ReplyDelete#2 - Have you always been so speedy? Or did you start of slow (like me). I've gotten faster over the years, but I think I would probably curl up in a ball and die if I kept your pace for 22 miles. I could probably do it for 2 or 3 miles. Maybe. OK, maybe 1. lol What did you do to get faster? Fartleks are helping me, but I've been working on them for several years now. I thought I'd be faster by now.
#3 - Snakes. SNAKES! s_n_a_k_e_s* Oh my goodness....I hate snakes. I have actually peed my pants when I see them on the trail. I have literally pushed other people, including my children, out of the way so I can flee the scene. I feel your pain. 'Tis the season. :(
Did Cola tag along for the whole run? That's awesome. Bungee really needs to get her act together.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking might need to throw in the towel with my Garmin and get the 210. Thanks for the review!
Didn't the 210 come with a velcro strap for larger or smaller wrists? My 405 did and I must say I am loving the watch so much more since I swapped over to it. The plastic strap was so uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteOne trick you might want to try, if there really isn't a different strap option, is to put a wrist band on under the watch. One fo my friends gave me that tip and she always wore a big terry wristband under hers. I went to Lululemon and bought a thinner run cuff and found it took the edge off and improved the fit.
Oh kitty. Soooo cute! I usually look forward to long runs because it gives me a lot of time to enjoy the run and clear my head. I could use one of those!
ReplyDeletegotta love long runs... I was able to get mine in too (although not nearly as long as yours... long for me :p)
ReplyDeleteHurrah for no snakes! I kinda skipped over your post with the snake picture in because I really hate to even look at them (I know, I'm very wimpy when it comes to snakes). And hurrah for another long run in the bag :)
ReplyDeleteGirl you are going to ROCK that marathon! I'm so excited for you and it seems crazy that its now just 45 days away! Man I could use a good 22 miler right about now. Love the feeling in my legs once I've finished, that sinewy feeling that lingers all day...CRAVING it right now!
ReplyDeleteI love the feeling after a long run and thinking of how far I have done, but my appetite is constant the entire day afterwards. Sounds like you are well trained for the marathon and you will rock it!!
ReplyDeleteI both look forward to and dread taper--it's a time of mixed emotions for sure! I'm glad you're enjoying the new Garmin. I've got the 110, which is even more stripped down and watch-like.
ReplyDeleteNice going. The picture says it all!
ReplyDeleteI like long runs. It's my time to be alone with my thoughts, or catch up with a friend.
ReplyDeleteI love the long runs too! It's always hard to get me out the door but once I'm out there, I love that time to myself!
ReplyDeletePS Did Cola do all 22 miles??! Holy cow if so!
Yeah, I was thinking "Did Cola do the 22 miles with you?" too! Awesome dog. Okay - will you have done 3, 22 milers in your training for your marathon? What plan did you use? I'm still trying to decide which plan to go with and marathon training begins shortly for me!
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful scenery where you get to run!
Great job on another long run! It seems like you are ready for a marathon NOW - can't believe you have to wait 45 more days!
ReplyDeleteI'll bet you BQ on your first marathon! You are going to do awesome. (probably because of the Lulu skirt... ;) ). That said, I totally knew you were going to comment on my blog because I knew you loved those skirts. Maybe I'll give one a try if I can find one under $60. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was a beautiful day here as well.
sounds like an awesome run! I'm loving and hating this taper equally. I'm enjoying resting more than I thought but my legs are itching for a real run. I've come to really enjoy long runs now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I feel about long runs, but I feel pretty fantastic about that happy cat laying in that planter pot! Look at that face!
ReplyDeleteAnd I think it's so great that you take your pup running with you! He has to LOVE that! (I'm an animal lover; have three dogs in the house here.)
Sarah
www.thinfluenced.com
Everytime I turn around you're running 22 miles!! Great job!! You are going to run an awesome marathon!!
ReplyDeleteI had the 210 and then upgraded to the 610. I am obsessed/love it!
ReplyDeleteDoes Cola go on all of your training runs with you? He is a busy little dude if he does!
Our cats always seemed to be going to sleep or just waking up at the farm. Occasionally we would get to see them in action killing something but they definitely sleep a lot!
ReplyDeleteI bet at this point Cola is just as excited to run every day as you are!
Cat's are hilarious, especially where and how they chose to sleep/relax. I don't have a Garmin but this post made me want one even more!
ReplyDeleteI love long runs. Yesterday I went for a 14 miler and decided to make it a 17 miler. I just felt so good! And you are right, when you turn around you know the rest is "downhill"! I love that feeling. Of course, my problem is that I want to keep running, because after all, I've only gone 10 miles, but I have to remind myself that however far out I go, I have to run that far back!
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of you and Cola! Who took that? A random passerby!? Also, I have been running into a lot of snakes lately too! I guess it's that time of year. I can't believe your marathon is almost here! That's so exciting!