For runners the weekends usually mean two things: races and long runs. In honor of the first I’ve brought you a little running cartoon.
Okay, okay, I’m not suggesting we all become snarky, “I just kicked your butt” runners…or, well maybe I am. How about I want you all to go out there and kick@$$ but let’s keep the majority of the snarky comments in our heads??
Oh, even better, you can bring all your runner snark here and let it out! 😉
Go, run, kick some butt! 🙂
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Racing ultimately comes down to an inward battle, it’s a matter of MENTALLY pushing further than what your body is ‘telling’ you it is capable of. HERE, HERE, and HERE are all posts relating to improving your mental toughness.
More cartoons and my Runner’s Strip comic HERE! 🙂
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1) Pick a race distance, and where does the real pain start to set in?
I’ll pick a 5k…that first mile really is deceptively ‘easy’…second mile you start to feel it, then BAM if you were ‘stupid’ that first mile, you REALLY feel it that third. The last .12 then is lost in a fog of, “Where is that darn finish line?!” 😉
2) If you have a race on Saturday, do you come back with a long run on Sunday? Or how do you work a long run in, if you do?
I suggest, depending on how hard the race was, you either do a longer cool-down and make Saturday the double-duty race/long run day. Or if it’s early in the season long run on Sunday after race.
3) What does your running weekend look like?
I agree – 5ks get tough even though it is “only” 3.1 miles. The last one I did on New Years Day here in Manhattan, I swear I was going to throw up when I finished. For only running 21 minutes, I sure felt horrendous! I honestly can’t recall when it got tough, it was so so cold out that right away I knew my breathing was making it all seem tough! I am completely turned off to 5ks. I would rather wait to want to throw up somewhere around mile 6 of a half marathon lol
I normally do my long runs on Saturdays so depending upon when a race is and how long it is, affects my Sundays. The last time I did a 10k on a Saturday, I came back with running 8 miles the next day which I am pretty sure was not the brightest idea. A few days later I was feeling it -and not in a good day. I think it is best for me to take it easy the day after any race longer than a 5k.
My running weekend normally looks like this – long run Saturday and a big slice of cake from Cheesecake Factory or as you know, my beloved waffle bowl of a sundae from Cold Stone Creamery Saturday night for dessert :)…I totally need the shirt that says I run for cake (or dessert)…And Sunday I come back with a spin class or easy run.
hahaha…okay, and you KNOW your dreaming about that cake/ice cream the whole second half of that run! 😉
Well, you already know I don’t follow a set training pattern (because I don’t really race anymore) but yesterday I ran 22 miles!!!
woot woot, great run!
Yeah 5Ks are still tough, it bugs me when someone says just a 5K. 5K is no easier than a 10K or half, it’s just a different kind of hurt and it’s over with quicker. I seem to hurt more the next day after a short, intense distance too. My running weekend… usually yoga or off on Friday, Saturday is long run, Sunday is recovery. Sometimes I do two medium-long runs in a weekend instead of a long run. Just depends.
he worst is when people say, “just a mile” i think, “i’d rather race a 10 miler than one!” haha
Iiiinteresting, because my 5K pain mile is Mile #2. I’m hurting from the first, but still feel realllllly far from the finish. If I can hear Garmie give me the Mile 2 beep, then I’m golden. I can do ANYTHING for a mile. [Shhh…we don’t tell my brain about the extra 0.1 ;-)]
How I handle the long run/race combo depends a lot on the race, training cycle, etc. Sometimes I’ll race (short)/long run as a Sat/Sun combo. If it’s not an “A” race, I’ll add mileage before and/or after. [In fact, my 5K PR is after running 3+ pre-miles. Yes, I *do* warm-up before a 5K, just not usually for 3 miles!]
These days, since I’m base-building rather than focusing on speed, if I have a weekend race, I’ll move my long run to Thursday morning, before a Sunday race. This only works because I’m not doing lots of high-intensity running (so basically I switch my long and faster runs), and my long runs are <14 miles. But it's actually not a bad system, since a race is sufficient "speed work" for me, these days.
the middle of races/workouts can really be the hard part of lots of runners, u’re not quite close enough to ‘taste’ the finish line. 🙂
Ooch. You know I’m still new to this 5km racing business, but it hurts just thinking about it.
Long runs are always tricky to fit around races. I’m still trying to work it all out. Thanks so much for the tips. …none of my friends want to race me anyway! They all think I’m a complete freak. Maybe I need better runner friends 😉
hey, i just HEAR about people racing an 800 and i cringe! lol
This is timely for me as I’m currently training for a half marathon and I would like to do some 5K’s in the mix. I was thinking that a slow long run right after the 5K and then all of Sunday off might actually feel better…or maybe not!
hahaha…just take it as it comes and see how u feel, maybe? 🙂
I have recently learned, through doing speed work, that short runs can be even harder than long runs if you’re trying to go hard and fast! Running kicks butt no matter way distance 😉
right THERE is i think i get peeved when ‘normal’ people automatically ask every runner if they’ve run a marathon, then if the answer is ‘no’ they give that look like, “well, okay, u’re not a REAL runner.” i’m pretty sure even the world record holder in the mile would get that look from them. 😛 #shorthurts