How To Make Long Runs Exciting!
Happy Wednesday! It’s been a muggy week here in Houston but apparently it will be cooling off overnight the next few days? Yeah, I don’t know. I’m staying on top of my allergy meds so I don’t get a fun surprise again. Now that I have a running schedule, I don’t want to miss a run! Today, I’m going to share a few ways to make long runs exciting.
During marathon training, long runs became secondhand for me. I grew to enjoy them and I actually looked forward to them. The local running studio held supported long runs during the summer which were great for me. However, I know not everyone has that privilege and not everyone has great long runs.
Listen To Music
This is the top way to make long runs exciting. Obviously be aware of your surroundings when choosing this option. I wear Aftershokz (head to my discount page for a code) and that allows me to listen to music while still being aware of my surroundings. I tend to build an elaborate playlist and then run. Whether it’s completely new music or some of your favorites, it really helps to get in the groove.
Audiobooks/Podcasts
This one is hit or miss for me. I have to REALLY be in the mood for it because it can bore me to death. However, I know that some people swear by this and makes time go by. I know that there are some solid podcasts that I can get sucked into and an hour can go by without me noticing.
Break Up The Scenery
Mental gymnastics tend to help break up runs for me. Sometimes I’ll really look at the houses I’m passing and try to find some common items. Other times I’ll count cars or wildlife I pass up. If I’m really lacking motivation, I’ll tell myself to run past a certain number of light poles before allowing myself to walk. Doing little things like this keeps my mind busy and allows me to continue running.
Do A Long Run Workout
When we think of long runs, we tend to picture running at a steady pace for an extended period of time. While this is a typical long run, it doesn’t hurt to make it a progressive run or mix in intervals. I’m terrible at math and even worse at math while running so even calculating intervals during long runs makes time pass quickly. By breaking up a long run into smaller and more manageable segments, you’re able to make the task seem less daunting.
Those are just a few tips on making long runs exciting. What are some of the ways you get through your long runs?
