On Saturday I ran my last BIG run before the Portland Marathon.
Twenty miles. Thirty-two kilometers.
That’s three miles longer than any of my previous long runs, and while I was sore for a few hours afterwards, I gotta say it was a pretty great experience.
I mentally broke the run down into chunks of “just five miles, four times” and I think that really helped. Also, around mile 17 that runner’s high hit and man was I feeling good! That was unexpected and I can only pray that something like that happens in Portland!
I didn’t listen to music for the first half of the run, but around mile 13 I turned it on and that gave me a nice boost.
There are certain songs I know I can turn to when I absolutely need motivation. When I was training for my first half marathon “Lose Yourself” by Eminem was my theme song.
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one chance, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo!
Feet fail me not, this may be the only opportunity that I got!
The theme song for my marathon training cycle has been “Run This Town” by Jay-Z. Sometimes I just listen to the intro over and over because it reminds me of crossing the starting line at a race so much.
I mean, doesn’t that say it all?
-You feel the excitement building as you’re waiting in your corral
– The crowd starts cheering as the gun goes off
– The THRILL of crossing the starting line is pretty amazing right?!
– Plus, you can’t be scared after the race starts, you have to just trust your training and believe you’re going to reach your goal.
This song is everything.
Oh yeah, and then there’s the chorus….
Life’s a game but it’s not fair
I break the rules so I don’t care
I keep doing’t my own thing
Walking tall against the rain
VICTORY’S WITHIN THE MILE
ALMOST THERE DON’T GIVE UP NOW
Only thing that’s on my mind
Is who’s gonna run this town tonight
C’mon, this song was made to be listened to while running!! Just typing these lyrics has me pumped up for my next run!!!!!
Speaking of running, I can’t believe I’m entering the taper. This training cycle has FLOWN by! I literally feel like just yesterday I was blogging about my first 14-miler! This coming Saturday I have a 12-miler and then I’ll do an 8-miler the weekend before Portland.
When I started training in July, 12 miles was my long run. Now I’m like, “oh 12 miles, is that it?” That amuses me!!!! And makes me really happy! 😀 😀 😀 😀
You guys…. I RAN 20 MILES!
That’s gonna make me happy all week long!
How did your weekend run go? Football? (I don’t want to talk about that)
Yay! Congrats to you. Getting to 20 is a big deal and I am so happy to hear you were feeling great! Yay!
YAY for 20 miles!!! That’s awesome that you found songs that are motivating for you! Even though I don’t listen to music while I ma running anymore I still find myself thinking of certain lyrics and singing them in my head to give myself an extra push:)
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When I’m not listening to music during a run I often sing my favorite part of songs in my head too, haha!
Congrats!!! You are double double digits hash! So happy for you and that you felt good finishing. Watch out Portland!
WOOT! Congratulations! I have 20 on the training plan for this coming weekend and am capital Nervous. Way to go!
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Thank you, Brooke! Don’t be nervous, you will nail it!
Hey girl, just found your blog through HRG. So amazing you ran 20 miles, I have yet to do that!! And a runner’s high at mile 17?! Yes, please! I ran in a half-marathon this weekend and couldn’t agree more that is the music that often gives you that extra burst to keep pushing through!!
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Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for stopping by and saying hi!
I just checked out your blog too, can’t wait to read your full race recap tomorrow!
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! Awesome job Kristina!!! 🙂 I feel like your training has flown by, too! I am so excited for you to run your first marathon. 🙂
#beastmode…so pumped right now! Congrats on 20 miles, that is a huge milestone. Makes me want to go out and knock out 20 miles lol. I know your ready for Portland and I know your going to kill it.
Btw you are 100% right on being amused by the 12 miles. Months ago my first 8 miler was dreadful and I never wanted to do it again. Now I’m looking forward to hitting 20 miles, what is wrong with all of us runners lol??
Eagles play on Monday night football, don’t miss it!!
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Isn’t it crazy how fast we’ve progressed during the SUMMER!! We made it through the hottest part of the year and now hopefully we’ll see it all pay off!
Watching the Eagles game right now. The guy I’m playing in fantasy football has Nick Foles and is on the cusp of edging me out, so I hope your Eagles win but that Foles doesn’t rack up too many points lol
Wow well done on the 20 miler! That’s awesome! I agree, I think the best way to tackle a long run is to mentally break it up, I mean 20 miles sounds so daunting at first! But tbh, it’s all worth it for that runner’s high!
Congrats on your 20 miler – great accomplishment!
Congrats on your 20!! Way to go, you did it!!
Lately I’ve been forcing myself not to look at my watch or phone during runs, because the constant clock-watching and “how many miles left?” just makes the run draaaaaag. During this weekend’s 22 miler I didn’t give in and look at my phone app until well over 15 miles in. I’d like to think that – and the awesome weather – is what made it go so well!
I agree that training has flown by, it’s weird what used to seem so hard!
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WOW! I can’t imagine not looking for 15 miles!!! I try not to look too often. Sometimes a mile or so will go by, but I can’t imagine not looking for that long! You have some serious mental strength!
When I read the first line–“I ran 20 miles!” I got excited for you!! You did it!!! Holy moly, if you DRIVE 20 miles it takes a while!! You are going to ROCK Portland!
That must be such a confidence boost–I have mine in 2 weeks. I think I will feel much better having that under my belt.
Football-whew! MUCH better week here!
Enjoy the taper!
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Thank you! 🙂 It was a huge confidence booster. I’m so glad that I ran the 20 instead of opting for 18 as my longest run. It’s so much easier to think “I’d only have to go 6 more miles” instead of 8 more miles!
I am thrilled to hear it went so well, Kristina!! That kind of mileage is no joke and it sounds like everything went well. A runner’s high at mile 17 is quite a luxury. Most people hit a wall around that point. WELL DONE!!! Portland is only three weeks away! Yippee! I did 17 miles yesterday and it felt amazing. I have one more 16 mile run next weekend to practice my pacing and speed, and then it’s taper time.
I don’t want to talk about football either. :*(
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I was really surprised by the runner’s high, I think I was just so excited to know that I was really going to make it to 20 miles! I can only hope that happens again at the marathon, but I have a feeling it won’t, haha.
Way to go on your 17, I saw on Instagram that you kicked butt!
I can’t wait to see you kill it at Portland! This run makes me really excited for you – yay for 20 miles!!
You are going to kick some *#s in Portland 🙂 A runner’s high at 17 is pretty darn awesome! I am still trying to get my mojo back, I am not sure if I remember what a runner’s high feels like lol
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The runner’s high really comes at the most random times… and always when you most need it! 🙂 I bet you’ll feel it SOON! I think I feel it more often in the winter when the weather is cooler. During the summer what I feel is more like delirium from the heat! 😀
LOL thanks for the little mile convert for the Canadian over here 😉 I can’t even imagine doing 20 miles right now, I can’t wait to see how you do in your race!
WooHoo – you are awesome!!! That great 20 mile run is going to carry you through the next few weeks right into your race. I can’t wait till your marathon – I know you are going to be incredible!!!
Congratulations!!! I’m definitely going to use your trick and break my 20-miler up into 4, 5 mile runs. That’s actually perfect because I take my fuel every 5 miles! I can’t wait to hear all about your marathon!!!
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Same here! I took a minute for a water/fuel break every five miles and that worked out perfectly. It’s so much easier to think “just get to five” instead of “gotta get to 20!”
Yay!!! Great job Kristina you are doing awesome!!
Fricken AWESOME!!!!! Well done Kristina!! That is a huge deal hey. That is a long long way. You are so prepared for your marathon. I can’t wait to hear all about it when you write your marathon recap up!! I haven’t done a ‘long’ run in ages hey, and although I may have done one or 2 (at most) 32 kms runs during some training earlier in the year, I can’t even fathom doing that today – it just sounds so far!! So, huge congrats to you ! 🙂
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Thank you, Lou! 🙂 I am still feeling pretty good about the whole thing!! I took two rest days in a row, and now I am so ready to get back out for a run!
YES!!!!!!! That is AWESOME. Completing my first 20-miler was a high like I can’t even describe. You are totally ready to ROCK this race! WTG! 😀
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2.5 days later and I still smile when I think about it!!!!
Great job on 20 miles!! Portland is an awesome city! You will do great!
Great job on the 20 miler!! It’s always a big moment to break into the 20s! 🙂
You are made of amazing stuff. You can do amazing things. I am sooooo stoked that you ran 20 miles!!!!!!!!!