Breaking down a long run...

[AndyD]

Decided I was going to try and extend my long run yesterday and decided to cut it up into multiple chunks.

Parked at the coffee shop on our local canal and decided to do 5k loops, thus 2.5k up the canal and then 2.5k back to the car where I took 5-10 mins to get a drink and fuel a little. After a short break I was ready to set out again and repeat my loop.

Every time I set out I really only felt I was running 2.5k as my brain got a "reset" at the turnaround and when back at the car for fuelling.

Keeping the pace really steady I ended up doing 3 x 5k + 1 x 6k ... well I just had to hit my first HM this year!!

Happy running folks

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon]

Well done Andy, that sounds like a great run. Funny how we can fool the brain in to thinking we have run less than we have! When I was training for my HM, I liked to finish my long runs on the same roads where I ran my favourite 5k runs. I am sure it helped. 🙂

[Dunder2004 Half Marathon]

Well done, Andy. Interesting approach.

I tend to do the exact opposite and run a long loop that takes me a long way from home/car. That way, if I was to stop, I would have to endure a very long and lonely trudge back.

[AndyD Ultramarathon in reply to Dunder2004]

I would do that normally and try to find a loop so the scenery is constantly changing, but I was also practising for a 12hour (6k loop) running event that I am doing in the summer. I was interested to see how how my legs (and brain) recovered if I took a planned break.

Don't think I'll do this every long run... but something to try again now and then.

[Tomas Marathon]

Interesting approach. Did you find it increasingly difficult to make yourself run away from the car again as the laps mounted up? I could see my gremlins arguing "you've already decided me well, don't bother with another lap" as the distance increased. Well done, and congrats with the year's first HM distance.

[AndyD Ultramarathon in reply to Tomas]

The first 5k was "easy" as it was the first... the 2nd 5k was interesting because I ran the other way up the canal... Then I thought... one more and that will be 15k and that's a good long run. Last one I thought.. well cant let a chance of HM go to waste even if I do craw part of it :-).... I really do think a lot of this is in the mind.

[Tomas Marathon in reply to AndyD]

I totally agree with you about a lot being in the mind. I've noticed that if I set out to run 5 km, I do great the first 3-4, and then the last km I start to feel like it's enough. But if I set out to do 20, then I do great for the first 15-17, and the going gets tough for the last 3-5. It's the mind playing tricks.

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon in reply to Tomas]

I'm glad you said that Tomas, I made post about that a couple of years ago, whatever distance I set out to do I seem to get tired about 2k from the end. No one seemed to know what I was talking about...

[JaySeeSkinny Half Marathon]

Well done on the HM. I don't know if my brain would play along, I would constantly be thinking "God, I have to do this route at least 2 more times. I can't possibly do that". But maybe it doesn't work like that. Might try it later in my running career.

[C3PO Marathon]

What a smart way to do an HM!

[poppypug Marathon]

That's very clever Andy !

Yep I agree that the mind is a massive factor in the long distance runs . I did 12k yesterday ,and I found it very tough and I had to really dig deep and will myself to keep on going .

Well done ! xxx

[ancientrunner Half Marathon]

Well done, variety is the spice of life as they say.

[roseabi Ultramarathon]

Good plan, love it!

[ju-ju- Marathon]

fantastic!!! I have heard other people do similar and it really does work... I like to do that too with landmarks...

[Curlygurly2 Half Marathon]

I think that was a great plan, to break it up like that. Also it meant you didn't have to carry supplies - very clever. Congrats on you HM too xx