How Compartmentalizing Can Help with Long Runs
I like very simple math (U + Me = Us, anyone?). There is something oddly satisfying about tracking miles and milestones in a clear, black-and-white way.
Even more than simple math, I like things that distract me from realizing I’m running incredibly long distances instead of enjoying a boozy brunch (like say, 15 miles on a random late September Saturday). Since running is mostly mental anyway (something I’ve really come to believe this training cycle), I realize that I use simple math tricks and mental games to help fool myself (and my body) into thinking I'm just running a series of smaller spurts.
For example, when I was training for the Boston marathon in 2015, I was scheduled to run 16 miles on my 30th birthday. There was still snow and ice on the ground and I was terrified of rolling an ankle (and of the blistering cold), so I opted to run those miles on the treadmill. I turned it into a fun game where I broke the run up into four shorter runs (on four different treadmills around my gym). I did something like 5 miles first, then 3, then 4 miles and then the last 4 (that equals 16 right?) I must have looked like a nut but it helped me SO much.
I do this while running outside too (say, in Central Park loops). This weekend, I’ll likely mentally break my 15 miles into three five-mile runs. And when I struggle to get through the second and third little five-miler, I’ll break them in half to 2.5 runs so I can celebrate the small victories (”halfway through this short run!”)
It reminds me of Kimmy Schmidt “you can survive anything for 10 seconds” mentality, but it works for me! It’s likely what I’ll do on race day (just four five-mile runs plus a quick 10K at the end!) since it’s worked pretty well for me in the past with half-marathons.
If anyone on the internets is even actually reading this, how do you mentally prepare or get yourself through a run?