long

You've heard it here before: 18 or more miles is a long run. Why that particular minimum? Because 17 just isn't long enough, and 19 is too long (for a minimum,, that is). There. That should explain it.

To add some much-needed clarity here, I'm thinking of long runs in relation to marathon training. You must be able to run 18-mile or longer training runs if you have a marathon in your future. And that I do. Running long is especially important for me at this time because I haven't done so in well over a year. Getting back to this kind of distance has not been easy for me.

~

Dan arrives at the Medina Square at 4:45, a good 75 minutes early. But it's not entirely all that good since he wanted to get started by 4:30. This means that he will probably need to run a few extra miles alone after everyone else gets done in a few hours in order to get up to 18. Oh, the things he goes through.

He zips over to the Claggett Middle School track and back for 6 1/2 miles. It's a clear morning and he witnesses the spectacular and rare planet alignment. The sun is beginning to rise by the time he's getting his gel and water and meeting up with his peeps. The four fellow runners happen to be all female this day.  Oh, the things he goes through.

The group run pace begins easy enough, but it quickly devolves into something less comfortable for Dan. Hey, take it easy on the old guy, he wants to say. But he doesn't. He's huffing and puffing too much to talk much. Eventually, Dan finds himself alone again as the others complete their runs for the day. He has 16 and change on his Garmin, so only two to go. 

Even though two miles don't seem like they should be a lot, Dan knows they will be painful. And slow.

Guess what? They are! Despite this, he makes it back. It's a little past 8:00 and the Square is buzzing with activity as the farmers market is about to begin. Dan is tired and sore, but he limps through the gauntlet of booths and over to the car. 

He's pretty darn happy with himself. The notification alarm in his head tells him that he can take a day off tomorrow. A well-earned one.