Boredom on long runs

[skhill]

How do you handle it? I've found that after about 2 hours, the boredom starts getting to me. It was so bad this weekend that I ended up cutting my run short-- it was supposed to be 20 miles, but I stopped at 16 when I just couldn't take it anymore. My legs and body still felt fine, but my brain wasn't up to it....

Any tips for dealing with the creeping boredom?

[OakLeaf]

Try a new route? My long run pace is slow enough for sightseeing...

[Tri Girl]

the purists will hate me (many of my friends snub their nose at me), but after awhile I just can't be alone with my own thoughts anymore. I will break out the ipod when I'm suffering from boredom. I also have to vary my route A LOT or else I wind up in a (I've only gone *that* far, or I still have to go *so* much further) kind of dialogue. I, too, get bored after about 2.5 hours. Too bad for me I run so slowly an 18 mile run is nearly 4 hours long. I got lots of time to kill...

[kacie tri-ing]

I like to run with a friend. Hard to get bored when you have people to talk to. I don't listen to music when outside, but it is a safety thing for me. I have come up with all kinds of mental games and counting and singing in my head. Sometimes, I am just bored though. Endurance sports can be kind of boring. Sometimes you just give in to it and go with it. It's a mind game too!

[zoom-zoom]

Audiobooks. David Sedaris, Chelsea Handler, and Janet Evanovich got me through training for 3 marathons.

[jessmarimba]

I can't do long runs without people's help. My ideal 20-miler would be running about 5 miles to a run, running with people, and then running home (I can end by myself as long as I'm running straight to my door!)

Or...I had one loop here where I was 3 miles from a park with a 3 mile circumference. So I'd run there, do 4 laps, run home. Not unbearable, and it broke the run up nicely (I can do 3 miles without getting TOO bored, but I'd try to run with people on the laps around the park).

+1 on audio books also.

[yellow]

For me the best way is to run with others. This year I've been struggling with the boredom factor too as my best running buddy is injured and not running now. Normally I make her run all or part of my long runs with me. I have another newer running friend and we are able to run together sometimes but our schedules often don't mesh. Last week I went out and ran 4+ hours by myself. Being alone was the hardest part (and I was really alone out on an island in the Great Salt Lake; I think I saw 3 people total in the 4 hours). The running part was surprisingly easy (well, as easy as running for 4 hours can be).

Finding a good partner is hard. I have many running friends that I don't actually run with because they are just too fast. So I usually wear the iPod when I am out on long runs on the trail (I don't run on the road). Most of the time I can work myself into a Zen-like trance and literally just think about one foot in front of the other. Other times I occupy myself with my eating and drinking schedules. And then other times I think of it as a series of small runs, focusing on making it to point x, after which I will worry about making it to point y. I talk to myself a lot (I don't sing because it tends to interfere with my breathing ). Sometimes in the winter when the trail conditions are really tough I fight breaking into tears because I am really wishing I had a partner in misery

So I guess I'm all over the freaking place mentally. Maybe that's how I manage!

[colby]

This question was harder to answer than I thought it would be. What DO I do on long runs?

I do try to vary where I run when it's going to be more than 12 miles for several weeks (months) in a row.

I also have an endurance coping technique, which is to say "I'm ALREADY 10% done!" even though that's only 1-2 miles Crossing 50% done is a huge mental win, and then major landmarks similarly if I'm running on a course (things like starting the second loop, etc). Your typical "break it down into pieces" stuff.

I visualize, especially crossing finish lines (trust me, visualizing an Ironman or even marathon finish never gets old), or where I'd be in this course or that course ("the aid station with the ford inspiration station" "going over the big hill, glad I'm not doing that right now").

Mantras. I've done it before, I'll do it again. Light and fast. Bring it on, I can take you. Depends on the weather and how I'm feeling.

Lately I've taken my dog with me, but that will come to an end as seasons change and I increase mileage. It feels good to do something for her, and I try to take things in with her on another level.

I do think about stuff, or I'll "write" in my head (how would I describe this run, this thing I passed, my experience in general).

From what I have read, you can break your long run into 2 long runs in the same day and still benefit (increase your endurance). If you can't do over 2 hours but you have 4 hours to run, do 2 hours in the morning, eat some breakfast/lunch, then do 2 more hours. You have to account for the increased warm-up time of two runs instead of one, but still get your miles in. Come race day, there will be a lot of distractions as it is.

[colby]

Ironically, Active.com just posted this on facebook.

http://www.active.com/women/Articles...ing-Blocks.htm

[7rider]

How do you handle it? I've found that after about 2 hours, the boredom starts getting to me. It was so bad this weekend that I ended up cutting my run short-- it was supposed to be 20 miles, but I stopped at 16 when I just couldn't take it anymore. My legs and body still felt fine, but my brain wasn't up to it....

Any tips for dealing with the creeping boredom?

Holy cow. I get bored on my 2 mile training loop!

Running without someone beside me - be it in an event or with a friend on the weekend - is just mind-numbingly boring for me. Maybe I'm just too slow.

Still...Runners World covered that recently in an "Ask Coach Jenny" blog. In case you can't access the URL unless subscribed, what she said is:

"I think it is safe to say (write) that most runners have days where we have to dig deep to find the motivation to run. Running boredom that lasts, however, can happen if you tend to run the same routine during the week. One trick that can help alleviate mindless wandering is to spice up your running routine with a variety of workouts and effort levels. For example, you could focus on shorter intervals (one to two minutes) at a hard effort followed by two to three minutes of easy paced running to recover. Repeat this four to six times after a 10-minute warm up and finish with a cool down. You won't have time to get bored because your mind will be focused on the next interval.

"Run your normal route backwards. It is amazing how stimulating new scenery and terrain can be and it is an easy way to freshen up your go-to route. Better yet, mark out a new route or trail system to run on the weekends when you have a little more time. Your creative juices will flow and you'll soon find yourself looking forward to exploring a new route. Run with a group or buddy once per week. The time will fly by as you solve the world's problems and you'll multitask getting in social and running activity in one fell swoop!

"Run to a new rhythm and create a new music mix (keeping one ear to your surroundings and one to the music for safety). It is well documented that motivating music can improve your performance. Start with tunes that are easy going and build into faster upbeat songs to finish strong. Or, combine motivating music and a form workout together by downloading a free music mix at a fixed beat on Podrunner.com. Improving your stride rate can enhance performance and decrease impact forces if you're over striding. Start by identifying your stride rate by counting one foot as you run for one minute and double the number. (I.e. If your stride rate is 170 (85 on one foot) download a mix that is slightly faster (175bpm) and run to the beat.) Remember to shorten your stride to allow for the faster rate, otherwise your intensity will sky rocket! In a few weeks download a faster mix at 180bpm and continue to progress your running stride rate. It will keep you in zen-mode and help improve your cadence, which we believe is best when it's around 180 (make sure to shorten your strides). Or you can download the application Upbeat Workouts to match your music to your stride rate (pretty cool).

"Keep it fresh by alternating your workouts throughout the week and you'll soon find you look forward to them!"

[limewave]

I like the out-and-back. I do that when I'm afraid I'll want to cut my run short.

Lots of good advice. I do like to vary my route. A nice thing about where I live, over 20 miles you can cover a LOT of terrain: residential, lake views, throw in a few miles of trail, perhaps a run along the beach and down the channel by the lighthouse. It keeps it interesting.

Its also nice to run with someone, but it is hard to find a running partner the runs a similar pace.

Good luck! I Hope you find something that works for you.

[skhill]

Great advice, everyone, thanks!

Up to about 15 miles or so, I've been able to lay out a variety of out-and-back routes that work pretty well; but further than that I've run into trouble with dangerous roads (high traffic/ no stoplights/ no sidewalks). But longer than that, I've been using a 2 mile neighborhood loop, around and around and around. Maybe this week I'll risk the mp3 player (I don't feel safe running outside with it, due to traffic and iffy neighborhoods), and do maybe 10 miles in the neighborhood then head out in a different direction...

[indigoiis]

I go through my to-do list. I take it with me and put it in my pocket. Often stuff just needs to be thought out. So I'll take a few miles to think something out.

I also make up dopey songs.

And finally, try planning a run in the next rural town over. Map it out on google, write out all the turns on a little card, drive or bike over to the "start" and go discover something new!