Revamping the "Long Run" & some long-run recaps.

When I first started training for my first half marathon back in the summer of 2009, 13.1 miles seemed like a very long distance to run.  I was positive something quite horrific would happen during the race, and I'd end up having to walk/limp across the finish line--or worse, be picked up by the paddy-wagon, earning a bright scarlett "DNF."

My longest training run was ten miles.  I found this out when I discovered the magical helpful website mapmyrun.com.  Despite the excessive and annoying pop-up ads, I could map wherever I ran throughout my community, and also, find some runs of other people.  Mapmyrun.com was a fantastic resource, especially since I was not familiar with any good running locations in my neighborhood. My neighborhood has great sidewalks, and good places to run, but I never would have discovered the "Hilly Miller" without mapmyrun.

The Hilly Miller is a 6.82 mile run that I can easily do from my front door. (re: I don't have to drive to a start point.)  It's also, as one might assume, very hilly, which helps if one is training for a notoriously hilly race....which I was. (As I've mentioned before, Baltimore has some monstrous hills!) It was a good loop that I could shorten (to as little as four miles) or lengthen (to as much as eight or ten miles) as necessary.  Also, it's 60-70% shady, which becomes rather important when you're training in the humid sticky summer months. In short, I love the Hilly Miller.  I ran three loops around it during my longest run training for the marathon.  In fact, almost any time I set out on a "long run" now, I don't even think about it, and I'll head straight along my old familiar Hilly Miller course.

Here's the problem: The Hilly Miller is getting suspiciously and unfortunately too easy.  Though it's just as Hilly as ever, tackling the same hills ever time is becoming the norm.  It's not a challenge anymore. It's really not even a "long" run anymore....I probably should be doing it at least two times a week, and then doing an actual LONG run on the weekend.  This makes me nervous....uncharted running territory?!  (Although, I am moving out of my condo in late July/early August, and thus will be forced to change my routine anyway.)

Here's a quick recap of my last few Hilly-Miller runs:

Run #1. I just bought my first fuel-belt (not a fanny pack, but the kind with the water bottles in it.)  My boss just completed a half-ironman, and he swore by them during his training.  I hated it. Does anyone run with these? (And enjoy it?) Because I was carrying four bottles around my waist (32oz. total) I didn't drink that much before my run, even though it was a particularly hot and humid day, and I set off bright and early (around noon.) The stupid fuel belt is not adjustable....admittedly something I should have considered before purchasing it, but that I didn't think would matter much.  I thought it'd be fine hanging low on my hips, since my fanny pack is fine that way. Wrong. The stupid belt kept shifting around, so I'd always end up running with a bottle in my crotch--Not fun! After a half mile, I was tempted to take it off, but I knew I would be thirsty, and I told myself I could manage it for a 6 mile run.  Maybe after a few miles, I'd stop noticing it so much....Wrong again.  It continued to annoy me through my entire run.  It was frustrating that I had to stop and walk every time I wanted water, and I also needed two hands to fenangle the water bottle back into it's elastic holder after getting a sip. It was not, as I had envisioned, a quick sip-and-keep-moving kind of operation. This was three weeks ago, and it was the first and last time I've run with this cursed belt. It was not an enjoyable or efficient run. It will have to be a pretty sweltering day before I try this silliness again.

Run #2: Clarence Clemmons had just had a stroke and been hospitalized.  The run went by easily and quickly, listening to Born to Run, 10th Avenue Freeze Out, and Cadillac Ranch over and over and over....
Only minor discouraging moment was when I passed a high school runner (he had to be on the cross-country team) with 3% body fat, running with a weighted vest. I've contemplated getting a weighted vest from time to time.....I'd probably like that much more that four bottles of water banging around my waist.   I think they are pretty expensive, but it'd be an interesting experiment.

Run 3#: Lazy lazy run....the run was good. I ran faster than usual.  I felt great! I had no where to be, and I should have just kept running.....but I didn't. Sigh....I cut things off at 7 miles, and headed home.  Not a good motivational story....but, at least I got a solid 7 miles in before I crashed on the couch to watch my DVR-ed episodes of "House."