Long Runs...

Running is a gnarly sport. Take a look at the damage and hell we put our bodies through to end up that stronger, faster runner. Take a look around any running group, and you’ll see the same motley crew of banged up, injured, angry and tired individuals. Sometimes we wake up at insanely early hours, and other times we stay up long past our normal bed times just to get the mileage in. I’m guessing about 75% of the average runners daily thoughts consists of running related content like “if I run X min/ mile, what would my marathon time be?” We make the choice to run in through neighbourhoods and on public roads despite knowing just how unappealing we must look (I assume something similar to someone who has ran 3 days in Death Valley with no water, when really I've only ran 3 miles in Port Moody). We do tempo, strength and hill workouts – all which leave us hurting and burning, but the fact is those runs are over in a short hour. In my opinion, the most challenging, pain-inducing workouts are long runs – the ones that drag on, the ones that demand mental and physical strength, the ones that get baffled, ridiculed looks from non-runners when we tell them exactly how many miles we did.

Things that happen on every long run:

Relying on the conversation the people behind you are having as your source of entertainment.

Getting annoyed when they decide to talk about where they get their dry cleaning done.

Constantly questioning yourself to why you signed up for this half/ full marathon.

(As well, making mental reminders to check out the race website and see if it’s too late to back out and get a refund)

Realizing you stopped your Garmin at the red light and forgot to press 'resume' after

Feeling chaffing start at kilometer 7, and knowing you have 20 more kilometers to go.

You'll probably end up cursing (in your mind) everyone who looks like they aren't struggling.

Contemplating whether walking would be faster than running that this point.

Deciding to continue running, and regretting it.

Realizing you forgot to bring your life line... GU...

Realizing you could have been sleeping right now

After all is said and done, the long runs, over any other workout, are the most rewarding. Continually being able to complete distances that majority of people will not even attempt once in a lifetime is an accomplishment -- and goes to speak to the amount of grit runners really do have.