Finally this past weekend it was time to do another 20 miler. Last time I felt like I was really amped up the night before and the night before this 20 miler I just was pretty mellow and was hanging out at my house. I ate a lot of carbs and went to bed at 9:00. It felt amazing to say the least but when my alarm went off at 5:30 I was still wanted to stay snuggled in my bed. Sometimes the hardest part of the long run is getting up super early. I packed up my little backpack with my sharkies and fuel belt and headed down to Newport Beach to run along the beach path. I had to go really early in the morning because it’s been SO hot here lately. Once I parked I went right off to get in the miles.
I gave myself little things to look forward to throughout the run. I got to eat some sharkies at mile 6 and I drank water every mile as well. It was an out and back route. I find that if I run by myself and go 10 miles out, once I turn around I have a little pep in my step because I tell myself “I just have to get back to my car!” As I got to the 10 mile turn-around, it was already really hot and I made sure to drink a lot of water throughout my run. Though I was getting tired, I knew I just had to make it ‘back to the car!’ Finally I got to the upper mileage and kept telling myself 6 more miles, 5 more miles, 4 more miles, then I only had a 5k left!
Finally I made it back to the car, with more awkward tan lines and a rumbling stomach. On my way home I could literally feel my muscles tightening. It seemed that I couldn’t get into the icebath soon enough! I grabbed a bag of ice at the market and hopped in the icebath to freeze for ten minutes. Seriously, icebaths are a weird miracle thing that make you feel 100 times better. After the icebath I really thought about how I fueled and the miles that I put in. For the lack of miles I’ve been getting in during the week, I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get in another 20 miler. With Camarillo quickly approaching, I know that these last miles in my training is important and I have to keep up my consistency.
It’s easy for me to get really tired and overwhelmed with training, and lose focus on what I’m training for, but right now I have about a month to go and I really have to keep up with training and finish strong.
41 days!
xoxo
nice job on the 20 girlie! wow your marathon is sneaking up quick!
I totally agree – ice baths are magically amazing. Even after a 10 miler I tend to get sore legs by the end of the day, but a quick ice bath right after my run and I am pain free like I never went running at all!
Wow! Way to bust out your miles! I can’t imagine running 20 miles. I’m definitely going to rocking the ice bath after my next half, I couldn’t move the day after the other two I ran, not even doing yoga afterwards helped.
Great job girl!! And I’m totally jealous of that picture your put up on twitter of y’all with Michael Phelps! I was watching him swim all weekend on TV!!
Well done with the XX mile run. I also had one this past weekend, and also had to dodge hot weather, so I know how you felt.
I’m always surprised to learn that people like out/backs, I prefer to run in a huge circle than an out/back…but then again I’m not running on the beach now am I?
Congrats on the 20 miler! I often do an out and back route too for longer runs. For me to do a big loop seems so much longer. Using your car is a great motivator to keep going ;)
Great job on the 20 miles…I’m a fan of the icebath too…well, not the ice bath itself but its results.
yay running! great job on the 20 d!!! :)
Congrats on the 20! Just curious, how many 20+ mile runs do you plan to do before the race? My training plan has me doing 5 but many people I talk to only do 2…
nice job on the run! I love an out and back for long runs. It helps me just split the run into two halves. Not as overwhelming then.
Solid run yo!
Way to go Danica! I struggled with hot and humid runs on a family trip to GA this past weekend and it was really difficult! I’m with you on the ice baths after long runs. I like to jump in the ocean right at the end, and then hit the tub at home! Race day cometh! :-)
Sounds exactly like my 20 miler last weekend. Uneventful long runs are such a blessing!
Way to get those mile done! I suck at getting in anything over 15-miles alone.
Well done!!
I dont think I can handle an ice bath, bbrrr!
Woohoo! No matter what, a 20 miler will always be an AMAZING achievement. You’re going to rock those marathons!!!
Hey 20 miles! You got nothin’ on D-train!
YAY for 20! That is awesome….you will be my motivation for this weekend’s 12 miler :)
Way to go! It’s hard enough to run a 20 mile training run but to do it by yourself! That’s just fantastic!
Hey Danica, I’m pretty new to running (got my first Half coming up in October) so I’m wondering if you would write a “How To” about icebaths? When/how often/how soon after the run/how long for/how much ice/do you have a hot bath after/ and of course, how to be brave enough to get in!
Thanks!
Great job on your 20 and so excited I get to join you for the next one!
Also, I’m *always* starving on my long runs.