Long Runs -- Week of 11/6

[kaybee]

Seychelle: Sorry about the injuries. I understand the foot problems, since I've had a few myself. Riding is a great complement to running, and if you do take the plunge you'll find that you're a much stronger runner after riding for just a little while.

Colby: I'm excited for you! You'll do great. What are you going to do during your taper?

BMo3: You are a PERFECTLY normal runner! You don't even want to be in the same room with me if I have to skip more than one run. I really pity my husband when I'm injured!

RunningMommy: Are you training alone? I would definitely go crazy!

KB

[colby]

Colby: I'm excited for you! You'll do great. What are you going to do during your taper?

Probably go crazy... I'm still following a schedule, which is shorter distances during the week, and shorter long runs on the weekend. This week is 5 miles, 4 miles, 6 miles, off, 3 miles, and Sunday's 12 miles (though Runners World recommended not going over 10 miles on your last long run weekend, so I might shorten that). Compared to my normal Thursday longer runs of up to 10 miles, 6 miles is pretty short. The total for last week was 35 miles, this week 29 miles, compared to max of 42 miles just 2 weeks ago. Even my marathon week at 37 miles will be shorter than my max week.

RunningMommy: Are you training alone? I would definitely go crazy!

While I'm not RM , I trained the whole season by myself, and really wondered how I would find a running partner at the end. While I have some trepidation about running with other people (what about pacing, what if they are faster than I am, what if I improve more than they do and "outgrow" them, what if...), I think it would be nice on some days to not be alone. I wish my husband was interested in running, my dad can't because of knee problems. Even then, I don't think I could get him training for a marathon. When I train for triathlons, I can get my dad and husband to bike with me, but not at my speed/distance.

[kaybee]

Probably go crazy... While I'm not RM , I trained the whole season by myself, and really wondered how I would find a running partner at the end. While I have some trepidation about running with other people (what about pacing, what if they are faster than I am, what if I improve more than they do and "outgrow" them, what if...), I think it would be nice on some days to not be alone. I wish my husband was interested in running, my dad can't because of knee problems. Even then, I don't think I could get him training for a marathon. When I train for triathlons, I can get my dad and husband to bike with me, but not at my speed/distance.

I think people who train alone are mentally stronger than those of us who manage to find partners. I can't skip a run or wimp out because that would be letting my buddies down, whereas if I ran alone, it would be so easy to skip workouts or let myself walk when the going gets tough.

I know I'm extremely lucky to have someone to run with. There are three of us -- two women and one guy. The other woman is the one that's training for and running the half with me, so during the week all three of us run together and on Saturdays she and I do our long runs. I appreciate these two people more than I can say.

KB