The Faster You Run, the Quicker You're Done

That's the phrase that went through my head when the alarm went off at 6 this morning.

Saturday is my long run day. The training plan I'm following has me doing three short runs during the week, ranging in length from 3 to 5 miles, and then a long run on the weekend. The long run started at 4 miles and increases by a mile each week. Today was the 8 mile day.

Before starting this half marathon training the farthest distance I had ever run was just shy of 7 miles. That means that every long run from today on out will be the longest run I've ever done.

Since these runs are now taking over an hour to complete, I decided I needed to make some changes to my running gear. Before today, my usual running apparel consisted of shorts, a t-shirt, a good pair of running shoes, and a small running belt where I keep my iPhone. The iPhone provides music or an audio book (more on that later), as well as the GPS app that tracks my route and time.

One thing I needed to start doing was hydrating during the run. For some reason, Mike and the girls didn't want to drive around town setting up various hydration stations for me on my route, so I went shopping for a hydration belt. They look something like this.

All of the belts I saw seemed so big and bulky. I didn't really want to add that much bulk to my belt. So I came up with a seemingly brilliant plan. I bought this little hand-held water bottle, and it only cost $15!

I planned to loop in onto my belt like so.

Genius, right? Not so much. As soon as I started my run I knew it was not going to work. Sure it felt fine when I tested it in the store. That's when there wasn't any water in it. Once I filled it with water, it bounced up and down with every step I took, banging against my side. I tried adjusting it around into various positions, all during the first half mile of my run, and nothing helped. I ended up using it how it was intended, as a hand-held water bottle.

Surprisingly, I really didn't think about it for most of the run. I switched hands a few times, but it was really nice to be able to take the occassional drink of water without having to unloop it from my belt.

Another thing I thought I would start trying was some kind of energy replacement gel. I had snagged some free Gu Gels from my last race, but I hadn't tried them yet because I didn't feel like I needed them for runs that lasted under an hour. Since 8 miles was going to take me well over an hour, I thought I should refuel on carbs and electrolytes midway through the run.

I used my last Gu packet today. My grocery store didn't carry that brand, so I'll try these ones out next.

I had planned on taking it around mile 5 or 6, but I happened to pass a trash can somewhere around 4.5 miles, so I took the opportunity to eat the Gu and get rid of the trash. I was glad to not have to stuff the used wrapper back in my belt. I washed it down with some water and managed not to really lose any time!

Mike and I had discussed my route at dinner the night before. There are two things I hate on the long runs. One is what happened to me last week. I ended up near my house at 6.5 miles and still had half a mile to go, so I had to run around the neighborhood for the final leg of the run. The other thing I try to avoid is running back the same way I went out. I try to make it a loop instead of running 4 miles and turning around and running back the same 4 miles.

Because Mike bikes quite a bit, I like to get his opinion on the distances of various routes around our neighborhood. We decided on a route that would take me on the bike trail until it ends on the other side of town. We thought it would be about 5 miles. Then the plan was to take roads back to the house, which we thought would be about 3 miles.

We were pretty dead-on when it came to the length of the bike trail. The part we misjudged was how many miles it would take to get back home from there. I ended up hitting the 8 mile mark somewhere along Main Street. Of course, I could have stopped and walked the rest of the way home, but that phrase was still in my head.

The faster you run, the quicker you're done.

I ended up running 9.05 miles. It took 1:25:38 at a 9:27 minute mile.

I don't know how I would have felt without the Gu, but I felt strong on the whole run. If it helped prevent burnout or cramps, or if it gave me a little more energy throughout the run, great!

A few other things I wanted to add about today's run....

I am not one of those people who gets done with a run and look amazing. (Do those people exist?) I am sweaty, red, shiny, etc. I bought a visor because no matter how early I manage to get out on Saturday (and today it was 6:30), I seem to end up running with the sun beating right into my face.

Awkward bathroom mirror pic

Seriously, the best $20 I've ever spent. The sun wasn't in my eyes, and it was great at keeping the sweat off of my face. I mean, I'm sure my hat got sweaty, which is gross, but my face stayed dry. I am not leaving home without my visor from now on!

The last thing I have to say is that I've gotten into the habit of listening to audio books while running. It is a great distraction. Currently, I'm listening to Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. However, as most of you know, I live in Colorado. To say we are having a rough summer is an understatement. Multiple wildfires have devestated our beloved mountains. Then, just yesterday, we made National news again when a gunman slaughtered so many innocent people at a movie theater. I wasn't in a very vampire slaying kind of  mood.

I turned on my MercyMe Pandora station on my phone and worshipped my Father during the run. I love worship music. I love singing loudly while I'm cleaning my house, or driving in the car. And today, worshipping while running seemed like the perfect fit. There is evil in this world. Isn't it great to know that God will overcome all evil and rise up victorious? Isn't it amazing to know that in times of grief and fear, we can put our faith and trust in God? It is so fitting that, while pushing my body, I could thank God for giving me that body and this beautiful earth in the first place.

Praise God for a great run!