What I love about long runs is the uninterrupted time to think and sort through “stuff”. I took Friday off from work (the key to the best day ever) and started off my day with a 18-miler. I got to “sleep” in, not run in the dark, and had the trail all to myself. Perfection.
I thought a lot about my running “progress” over the past year. I can pretty much divide the past year into pre-50K and post-50K training.
I was extremely discouraged while training for Boston. Dropping my MP from 8:30 to 8:20 seemed impossible and so did that sub-3:40. Turns out, it didn’t matter much come race day.
so happy. so hot.
Then I spent the summer running lots of long, slow miles. I ran myself silly and loved every mile of it. A month after my 50K, I shaved 2 minutes off my half marathon PR. It was a mix of ultra training “magic” and having absolutely no expectations.
It occurred to me on Friday that my lack of (speedy) progress while training for Boston was because my endurance plateaued. It didn’t matter how many mile repeats I did or how many MP long runs I ran. Your speed is limited by your aerobic capacity.
Training for a 50K unlocked speed I never thought I had. I will run a 3:30 marathon some day. I just need to keep running ultras too 
It’s difficult to analyze your training and progress when you are nose deep in it. It’s hard to be objective when you are consumed with training. That’s why running coaches are so great (shameless plug)!
Do you sort through thoughts during long runs?
Ever had an epiphany about your training that would otherwise be obvious if you weren’t so consumed with your own running? Did that question make any sense?!
Want to train for a 3:30 for Shamrock with me? 😉
I feel the same thing as you only on a smaller level. Last year I ran a 1/2 and then trained and ran a full. I feel the training for the full unlocked my speed. I just completed my second 1/2. My pace for the 1/2 just a year ago was 10:36. I ran the same 1/2 this year and my pace was 8:42!
I’m glad you had an awesome long run and were able to put together some thoughts on your running in general. Solo runs are great for that.
I found I was lagging in speed late this summer/early fall. For me, the trick was actually to do some really short, intense speed work, then start adding in some tempo work. Yesterday during the Baltimore marathon relay, I found I was back where I should be pace-wise and THAT was a great feeling!
Nice job on your run! I don’t get to do long runs anymore (well, at least for a while) but I did love them for that same reason – to think through things. I just wish I remembered more of the amazing blog posts I wrote in my head while running so I could have actually posted them!
Running is so cathartic for me…it gives me a chance to get through thoughts that I didn’t even know were stuck up there. It really frees up my mind, relieves stress I’ve been going through, and sometimes get creative. It was during a recent run a few weeks ago that I came up with the idea for The Runner Dad blog, which so far has been going well! Keep up the good work!
Every single time I run alone I sort through something. When I’m running with others and there’s a lull in the conversation, I take a minute to be grateful I’m out there running. I absolutely love it! I’ve been running a short enough time (a year) that I still PR every race and it’s “easy” for me to unlock speed. Reading blogs like yours really inspires me! (Also the day I can afford a running coach will be a magnificently joyous one!)
oh, this is great, Kristy! And I totally agree. I guarantee I’d be a hot mess right now if I left my training up to me and me alone because I don’t really have the ability to be objective with my training. Running coaches FTW all the way. Also, I have no doubts that you’ll hit and exceed that 3:30 🙂
Now I really wish I’d ever had a running epiphany to share but I really don’t think I have. The best I’ve done is come up with good ideas for birthday or Christmas gifts, or for activities to do at work. I do really like training for ultras though. Any others on the horizon? Now I’m on a runner’s high and want to sign up for all the races.
I’m thinking really good things about my heart-rate training, but I won’t know for sure until I see what it brings me in my half-marathon this Sunday. I agree that endurance is really key too, and I *like* long slow runs (which are out of fashion in some areas!). I’d like to do a 50K someday…not sure about longer…..
If anyone will run a 3:30 (or sub 3:30) it would be YOU. You train right and race smart. You were one of the Boston finishers in that dreadful heat. You will always be remembered as the year that they offered deferrals for the Boston Marathon.
Let’s see, thoughts that run through my head?!? It’s usually, “Oh, I have to remember to pick up eggs!”, “Oh, I hope P remembers that there are fresh fruits for the baby in the fridge.”… I think on my long run yesterday I thought of how awfully cold it will be while I wait to race NYC. And… I’m in the 3rd wave. So disappointed. I don’t know how that happened.
I often feel like I do my best thinking while doing a long run (one perks of logging miles sans headphones) though my mind usually wanders to everything but running. As for your 3:30, I’m sure you’ve got it in you!
My deep thoughts on long runs are usually about what I want for breakfast 🙂
I dont always have epiphanies on long runs — I often have them writing bog posts actually! When I write (either online or in my log), I often am able to look at the overall picture rather than what is freaking me out that day. For instance, today I woke up not wanting to run. I felt really bad about it, like I was lazy. Turns out, I did hit my highest mileage ever last week (47 miles, for the record) and ran 20 on Saturday. Extra rest didn’t hurt anyone. Overtraining certainly does. Or so I tell myself.
Also, totally agree on the running coach thing!
My main goal right now is to improve my 5K time and one of my friends says that, in his opinion, the key to getting faster in the 5K is to run so many miles that 3.1 seem like nothing. I guess that’s the same kind of concept you’re talking about with ultra training helping your marathon time.
I wish I could say I thought deeply during long runs. I mostly just think about when I will get to the next mile. I’m really bad at distracting myself!!