The Long Run: 15 Miles and Counting

I had the bright idea to run a marathon this year. I wanted to see if I could do it, and I knew I’d need to reach that distance if I wanted to do an Ironman one day.

Last year when I was trying for a half marathon, the distance seemed like a challenge. Comprehending 26.2 miles is still hard for me to do. I’ve now run 15 miles, and thinking that I’ve got another 11 to add is rather frightening.

The 15 miles run wasn’t the best run, but it wasn’t the worst one either. I deviated from a normal schedule, which I think may have impacted the quality of the run. I had met a friend for coffee at 10 which is when I would normally start the run. So I ended up starting about 12:20 instead.

For fueling I prepared my usual mix of UCAN SuperStarch, MCT Oil, Amino Acids and Electrolytes. Before the run I took a package of Vespa. This combo worked well on my last run. I also had a Bulletproof Coffee while I was meeting my friend. Normally I would have this first thing in the morning.

I started off and my stress level was a little high. The spot I planed to park in was taken so I had to improvise and find a new spot. It was about half a mile away, which wasn’t much of an issue other than the fact that there is a significant hill I’d have to climb. Since I’m using MAF and trying to keep my heart rate under 145, the hill wasn’t a great way to start.

For the frist four miles of the run my right leg was bothering me. I could feel tension in the calf, and the circulation seemed poor. I was really concerned that I might not be able to make it through the entire 15 miles. But after those first four miles, I felt fine!

Most of my long runs I’ve felt like I got into the zone. A good song would come on and I just got in the groove and would cruse through the run. That didn’t happen this time. It wasn’t a bad run, just not a great one. I think the lesson I learned from this run was not to deviate from my normal schedule. Also to avoid any stress before the run. I had a lot to get done that day and it was something I was thinking about a lot durning the run.

The distance will continue to grow as I prepare for the Colfax Marathon. I’m not afraid of finishing, but I would love to get a respectable time. Breaking the three hour mark is what I want, but lets be honest, I want to shatter that. I’m not seeing a big improvement with the MAF training speed wise right now, however I think it’s the only way I’ll be able to build up the distance. I’m going to be patient and give MAF time to work before I get back to HIIT for speed work.