Since the beginning of April I have been changing my workout routine a lot. My goal was/is to become a better runner. I was stuck in the six to seven mile range and that bothered me a lot. In the beginning of April I switched Gyms and I joined a local 24 Hour Fitness. When I signed up I was able to land a free 3 session package with a personal trainer. Now almost 2 months later my additional efforts are paying off.
Yesterday I went for a run and when the clock stopped ticking I had done an 11.3 mile run. “Holy cow” was the first thing I said to myself when starring at my smartphone’s screen where the Endomondo app showed me stats for this run. A few weeks ago I was out running and did a nine mile run and now this. 11.3 miles in just under 2 hours. While I consider the average mileage as secondary, the overall time for this run felt important because I never ran that far in my life ever before. I felt this run in my legs, especially in my calves when running hills. I could tell that I was literally pushing the limits towards the end, but I was able to finish the run properly. Now a day later I am a little sore, but overall I am feeling very good.
Pushing the limits is a good thing and so I am very happy with how everything has turned out. I know I still have a lot of work to do and work out even harder. My goal is to go even further and not being totally exhausted at the end. I am not sure if I am going towards a marathon, but why not. The only reason I am not committing to one is the limited time I have available for working out and to increase the number of my workouts. There is a time commitment that I am not able to make at this point. So, I am kind of trying to sneak up my mileage closer to the magical 26.2 mile marker without really saying so and without really making room for it in my calendar.
Anyway, I am extremely happy about the progress I have been making since the beginning of April. I am working out for about 60-65 minutes per day doing a mix of cardio, weights, machines, and plain old gymnastics. I can feel the additional muscles on my front and my back and I can see my arms getting a little bigger, too. I am excited about the progress and how far I have been able to run. I know that for the more experienced runners this is probably boring stuff to read, but for me it is exciting.
So, I am going the distance and I am loving it. I bought a runner’s belt and I carry an energy bar for a quick break during the run. At around 40-45 minutes I slow down and walk for 3-4 minutes. I have some Gatorade and I eat a protein energy bar. Then I pick up speed again and continue running. Several weeks ago I experienced some chaffing during a 7 mile run and so I went out and bought some UnderArmor compression shorts that I am now wearing underneath my running shorts when heading out for a run. No more chaffing and the compression shorts also help to keep the moisture (sweat) away from my body which makes it more comfortable going for a run. I am pushing the limits on my current running shoes (Nike Pegasus 28) and I know I am due for some new ones. The current pair is somewhere at the 500 or 600 mile marker of running + I wear them when working out in general, too.
If you are a runner, let me know what you do to further increase your running distance? What’s your secret for a good and long run? Please leave a comment below.
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