Long Run--Split
Last week I followed my plan perfectly. This week presented a new challenge because I am heading out of town to Hocking Hills with some girlfriends for a weekend away in the mountains. Yep, mountains--aka not ideal for running. I know myself well enough to know I'm not going to go run 7 miles (90 minutes) on Sunday afternoon when I get home. So after a lot of thought and trying to figure out how to swing my long run this week, I did some research on splitting long runs. A lot of different experts seem to think that a split run provides almost the same benefits as the long run done all at one time, especially if you split the run on the same day. One pointed out the obvious--splitting your long run is better than skipping your long run. So, with that in mind, I decided to try it.
So this morning I got up at 6 and went for an hour long run before work. Went to work from 8:30-5, and then immediately went back out for my 30 minutes tonight. Let me just tell you that might have been the most terrible 30 minute run of my training to this point. My calf muscles were screaming in protest the entire time. "You've run already today! Give us a break!" I could seriously almost hear my muscles talking to me. The first mile was particularly brutal and I had to stop and walk for short periods of time several times during that first mile. That is also the first time I've had to take a walk break during my training so far. Once I finished the first mile, I sort of found my stride and managed to run straight through for the next mile and a half and finish it up. Overall, I ran 7.15 miles today and I am very proud of myself for getting it done!
