Guest Post: Carly

 

Greetings, Running with Sass readers! I’m Carly from CarlyBananas and I’m here to talk about how to have fun while training for half marathons.

1) Set a realistic goal

I’m a newer runner and I really wanted my first half marathon to be a good memory.  I started out training with a plan that where I’d hit a pretty impressive goal time but half way through training I wasn’t having fun.  I probably could hit that goal time but I didn’t want to anymore. My goal was attainable but not realistic.  But changing my goals I was able to settle into the second half of my training and really enjoy it.

2) Find a running group or running buddy

If you’ve been to CarlyBananas, you’ll notice that I do an awful lot of my runs with a running group or my partner in crime, Suze.  Having someone to talk to during long runs makes the time pass so much faster. Having a buddy to pass the times makes long runs something to look forward to!

3) Find fun running routes

It’s really easy to get bored with running if you’re running the same route over and over again.  There are some great sites that I use to find routes in the DC area:DailyMile,MapMyRun, andRunKeeper are great.

4) Keep a good attitude

For most of us, running is a hobby. It’s something we do voluntarily.  We wake up early on weekends, we head to the track for speedwork…but it’s not our job.  When I get overwhelmed or down about a slow run I remind myself that running is something I love and any stress I have from isn’t necessary.  I know it sounds silly but I find that if I tell myself that I’m having a really good time then I end up having a really good time 🙂

5) Pick the right distance race for you

I think with the proper training most people can run any distance they set their mind to. On the other hand, running a long distance race is a time commitment and it has to be one you want to make.  Run races that are right for you. I had a lot of friends run the Marine Corps Marathon this year.  Sometimes, I felt bummed that I wasn’t training with them but I knew it would be too much for me this year. I didn’t want to commit to doing the very long runs every week. So I signed up for the 10K and then went and spectated the rest of the race. Always remember to run your own race – it doesn’t matter what other people are doing.

So there you have it. Those are my big tips for having fun while training for a long race.  Many All of them seem pretty obvious but it’s easy to get focused on the numbers side of running and look past what’s right in front of our faces.

QOTD: Do you have any tips for how you keep your training enjoyable?

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Carly thanks so much for guest posting! Good luck in your training and racing!