I’m planning to run the Go! St. Louis Half Marathon on April 19. I’ve done it twice before, plus I’ve done two full marathons, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. Except, I haven’t really trained for it.
I run almost everyday (I’m now officially failing on my New Year’s Smart Goals/Resolutions). But I typically only run between four and six miles. I’ve been doing some speed training, lowering my average from my lifelong 10-minute to about a 9-minute mile. That’s a good thing, I guess.
Still, I haven’t done any runs that take longer than an hour. Part of my problem is that I’m not training with anyone. For all of my other distance runs, I’ve had running pals. I trained for my first half marathon and my first marathon with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training program. I highly recommend this program for anyone who wants to do a longer event for the first time.
I’ve also trained for events with one of my best friends from high school and one of my former neighbors. We’d all complete our shorter weekday runs alone on our own time, but we’d meet on the weekends on the Katy Trail or another local park to do our longer training runs together. We’d talk the whole way, so even the dreadful 20-mile training run was bearable for at least 2 1/2 to 3 hours. After that, no one is good enough company to keep your mind off your discomfort.
This time around, I’m on my own. My neighbor moved and my friend is busy with home remodeling projects.
My favorite way to keep keep myself entertained while running alone is to listen to books. I absolutely love audible.com, the digital version of books on tape. I used to carry a cumbersome cassette player, and then later, a CD player as I jogged for miles and miles. I’d rent books on tape, and later books on CD, from the library for free. But then I got a first-generation iPod Nano for Mother’s Day several years ago and a whole new world opened up. I’ve listened to all of Stephen King’s new books since then — Duma Key & Lisey’s Story & Stationary Bike — on my iPod while running.
My amazing church, Windsor Crossing, also uploads video and audio podcasts of its weekly services to iTunes, so when I miss church, I download the podcast and listen while I’m running.
Tomorrow I’m headed out for a 10-mile training run, and I’ve got about three hours left on my latest book from audible.com – “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. It’s a decent book, but not so engaging that it keeps my mind off the monotony of running 10 miles. I really wish Stephen King would’ve been kind enough to write something new for my current training regime. Anyone have a King-ish type book to suggest?
