Conquering the Longest Training Runs
Marla's getting ready to toe the line on race day! (Photo by John Herr)
Only two weeks left to go! Hope everyone is getting excited. I know I am (and a little nervous too!).
Over the weekend I tackled my longest run yet, the big 10-miler. All week I had been psyching myself up for it, and on Saturday morning I set out for it feeling strong. I met with Stephanie Middleberg, my nutritionist here in NYC, on Friday afternoon, and we discussed how I should be eating on days that I run hard. Because I like to wakeup and do my runs in the morning, Stephanie recommended that I eat a banana and half of a Nature’s Valley granola bar an hour before running, to ensure high energy levels. I took her advice, waited an hour, and then hit the streets. With the sun shining, the fresh air, a brand new running outfit from the Helly Hansen team, and my iPod blasting my favorite tunes, I felt like I could take on the world!
The course that I ran took me about an hour and a half and incorporated lots of hills (Have you seen the course map yet? If not check it out here. It’s going to be a hilly one!). There were moments when I felt myself getting tired, but I chalked that up to being bored—hey, no one said running 10 miles was going to be the most exciting thing! When that happened I chanted my running mantra: “Go girl! Go girl! Go girl!” Sounds silly, but it actually works and motivates me to push through and go harder. Do you have a running mantra?
After finishing, I made sure to stretch for about 10 minutes (didn’t want to wake up on Sunday with sore muscles!), drank lots of water, and then cooked myself a nice hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheese, 2 slices of toast and some fruit. When I think about it, that seems like a lot of food, considering I ate a banana and a granola bar just two hours before, but Stephanie told me that my body needed the protein and carbs to refuel after running for so long. I’m thinking a big meal after the race in a couple of weeks will be a necessity!
If you’re interested in seeing my new favorite running gear from Helly Hansen, check out these links:
Now tell me: How is your training going? Are you nervous for race day like I am?
Categories: The Half-Marathon Diaries | Tags: Nutrition, Stretching, Training, Water
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