It might be stating the obvious, but longer distances just go on and on, so how do you avoid getting bored of putting one foot in front of the other?
How do you choose where to run and where to avoid?
I stick to a seafront promenade most of the time (to avoid narrow pavements and cars) but gazing at waves and counting beach huts Is getting quite brain-numbing, plus I can see the vast distance stretching ahead of me.
Not sure how to distract myself from thinking about the mileage.
Written by
Sarararara
Graduate10
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Can you vary your route? I never get bored, and I run without music or other distractions, but my routes are varied and there is always something to see: trees, birds, animals, flowers, the whole of nature spread out for my delight, cottages, churches, you name it.
As others have said, I would definitely recommend a change of route sometimes if you can. One of our city parkruns is there and back along the seashore and it's beautiful, and kind of motivating sometimes to be able to see where I've still to run, but I think if I always had my route stretching ahead of me like that it would be psychologically tough!
Choosing where to run and where to avoid is trial and error really. If I fancy somewhere new I plot a path on Strava, there are lots of other options too, like mapmyrun or plain old Google Maps, but I like having the Strava real time map on my phone to follow, and being able to save the route for future use. I invariably get it a bit wrong when I'm running or find it doesn't quite work out if a path or trail is blocked, but that's all part of the fun. You don't have to use a map of course, but I like knowing that I've got a ballpark distance plotted out otherwise who knows how long I'll end up out there...
Some people use audio books, podcasts or even the Run Zombies app—they allow you to focus your mind away from the mileage countdown a bit. Personally I'm a dreamer, I don't like having words fed to me, but it's worth giving everything a shot to see what suits you 🙂
Hi Sarararara, I found doing a there and back run helpful. so you would run for say 3.5k, then turn and run back... the view would be the same but you get a different perspective and retracing your steps feels easier somehow. I also try and run in the moment for a longer run, stop wishing yourself further ahead, but instead concentrate on how you are feeling. I use a playlist I love with ZombiesRun! playing alongside it, which calls out your distance and gives you a mission to accomplish. (I just use the storyrun no chasers!)
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