Hi friends,
This run has been a long time coming. I have been ready and wanting to break through my longest run for a long time. Last weekend in Dallas, I ran 6.5 outside and it was good. And realizing that I don’t have that many weekends left to increase my miles, I had a little “now or never” moment and decided that it’s time to pick it up for real!
This is also the first time ever that I have run long distances so close together (within a week). Legs are ok, so let’s keep it like that.
8 Mile Run:
On Thursday morning, I had two pieces of Ezekiel cinnamon raisin toast with peanut butter and raspberries, coffee, and water before I left.
I filled up my Camelbak water bottle and added 3 Shot Blocks to the pocket on the bottle wrapped in foil. I also didn’t know the best way to carry these (ziploc or saran or foil, but this worked.) Also had my new Garmin (love!) with heart rate monitor, iPod, hat, tape on my leg, plus clothing. I feel like I had a bomb on me or something with all the things I have to carry now.
I really wanted to hit 8 without walking but would settle for hitting 7 and adding some walking. But no need for that, I ran it all!
Here are my stats:
| Split | Time | Distance | Avg Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 01:36:41 | 8.00 | 12:03 |
| 1 | 00:11:55 | 1.00 | 11:53 |
| 2 | 00:12:00 | 1.00 | 11:56 |
| 3 | 00:12:00 | 1.00 | 11:59 |
| 4 | 00:11:47 | 1.00 | 11:47 |
| 5 | 00:12:47 | 1.00 | 12:45 |
| 6 | 00:11:58 | 1.00 | 11:56 |
| 7 | 00:12:02 | 1.00 | 12:02 |
| 8 | 00:12:07 | 1.00 | 12:12 |
About the Garmin:
This was my first time using it for a run with the foot pod. The pod is amazing, it is extremely accurate, and you’ll never lose a signal because it’s not related to a satellite. I was a little worried about picking the right watch (there is one fancier one above this and then they get real fancy), but this is perfect for me. It has up to 5 screens and I use two on auto-rotation. One screen shows heart rate, calories, and miles per hour. The other shows time I’ve been going, distance I’ve gone, and pace. All are customizable.
It also auto-laps on each mile and beeps at me. I love that part. It’s like we’re friends. I don’t have to push “lap” when I hit a mile. When I came home, I plugged it in to the computer and got to see my splits and graphs of time, heart rate, and cadence. I like the heart rate monitor more than I thought I would. I maintained a HR around 160.
Anyone know what’s ideal or rules about heart rate while distance running?
To compare, I wore it to Crossfit on Wednesday and my max was 180 while we did the workout of the day. And the day before that, I wore it to the gym for crosstraining on the elliptical and Stairmaster, and my max was around 160 on Stairmaster and 120 on elliptical.
The Garmin also told me I burned 828 calories with an average pace or 12:04/mile. It’s not an ideal pace, but I’ll work on that when training for the next race. However, my pace was very steady which is good.
About the fuel/water:
I took my first Shot Block around mile 4.5 I think, and then had another about a mile later, and then another a mile later. I loved the flavor! I think it is Strawberry. I ate the first one walking and then the other two jogging. Those are a keeper. Taste like thick gummy bears.
I drank all my water (about 25 ounces) and needed more, but waited until I got home. I considered asking someone for water to fill my bottle from their hose but decided that would be sketchy. During the Half Marathon, I may count on Mommy to hand me a bottle halfway through. (Hi Mom.)
How do you manage water and food? Where do you put it?
About my clothing:
Hey, it’s important too. I wore a Dry Fit Nike hat and it was perfect. Never came off, felt great, and blocked the sun. Love that. Everything else worked fine. I am now wearing Lululemon cropped leggings on long runs because Nike shorts were getting in the way. And I taped up my right shin, which felt fine and didn’t come off. I now think this injury is superstitious. My right hip always hurts, but not while running.
There’s a little review of 8.0! I hope increasing in the future feels as great. I was ready to be done at 8, but we’ll worry about that next time.
For my celebratory lunch, I had the BEST sandwich in town from Stone Mill Bakers. I just wrote about how much I love them after a great run.
Turkey with Cheese, Sprouts, Avocado on Whole Wheat
They have the best and biggest samples. Cinnamon roll with Raisins! Not the Larabar flavor cinnamon roll, the real stuff.
And a ginger cookie. I only had a bite and took the rest home. The cinnamon roll sample became my dessert.
I wear a spibelt (http://www.spibelt.com/) for my long runs which holds a pack of Shot Bloks perfectly (I keep them in a Ziplock bag – FYI). By the way – Target currently has the strawberry on sale for $1.25 per pack.
For my first half, I was in Chicago and was glad to have relatives there to hand me off Powerade Zero. My second half is next Sunday in Houston and my siblings are going to do the same. Definitely have your mom help you!
Awesome job on your 8! =)
Great job on the long run! I’m sure you felt great after it
What do you think of the shot blocks? Did you feel they gave you energy after eating them?
Glad you are enjoying the Garmin too! My HR varies, depending on my workout. When I run, I find that it’s in the 170-180s, when I box it’s in the 170s and when I spin it’s in the 140s…hope that helps some. Over time, you will determine your own averages in a given workout!
I really liked the Shot Blocks. I don’t think it was like immediate go fast sugar, but it made me feel not like I was running on empty. And I guess it worked since I haven’t run that far before. It also agreed with my stomach fine and they were easy to handle.
Great job on the run! I am a relatively new runner (triathlete) and happy to report the run gets better every year.
I like the suggestion above by Kim, on the belt, real sleek and lady like.
I use an ampiphod http://www.rei.com/product/798351
and like it. Started using this year.
Good luck in the race!
Congrats on 8 miles. It sounds like it was a great success! Does the heart rate monitor get in the way at all for you? I’ve been toying with a Garmin but am hesitant to commit to a heart rate monitor for HR and calorie burn.
It did not get in the way. I thought the strap would be annoying. It is very snug but feels like part of the sports bra that it sits under. And it seems very accurate with HR and calorie count. I like numbers so it’s fun to analyze (nerd alert).
If I’m going to be out for more than 10 miles, I try to “stage” my car so I run by it a couple of times to grab a gel or some water or a small bite to eat. Depending on the weather, I’ll usually carry a small bottle of water and try to run by a water fountain at some point to refill it. I like to stay as hands free as possible, but otherwise I would suggest getting a Fuel Belt — the branded Fuel Belt (or what the person listed above), not a cheaper imitation. I used one a few years ago and loved it.
Congrats on your 8 miles!
Nice job on the run! Hooray for a good, steady pace! I usually carry a water bottly with a little handle/pocket on it for longer runs and fill it with a Gatorade/water mix. For runs longer than 15-16 miles, I’ll have a gel about halfway through. the vanilla powergels are great! And easier to get down while running than the shot bloks (though I like the way they taste too!)
Thanks for the tips Kelly! I am sure 8 miles was once a big deal for you!
Way to go on your 8 miles…you are awesome!
I wear Nike capris that have a little back pocket, which I can fit my 2 keys (off of my keychain), ID, and 1-2 packs of sports Jelly Beans. I got a camelbak that I used during training and filled with a mix of gatorade and water, which also has a small pocket for carrying stuff. For race day, I bought a handheld water bottle that has pocket which can fit 2 packs of JB.
Also, I used to map my runs so that I would pass Starbucks every 4 miles or so and just stop in and get water.
Marci, I am exhausted just reading about your jogs and the comments back. How in the world do yall jog so far? Of course, I will be at your run giving you gels, bars, shot bloks, etc. you tell me.
This is great! Congradulations on 8 miles. I have only tried up to the 5K mark, but wow you make it seem like if you’re prepared just do it!
PS I like the hat. Hook em’
Ooh, I’ve been toying with getting a Garmin for awhile and it’s nice to see a good review of a non-305 model!
Good job on your 8 miles!
That’s true, everyone has that 305 but it is so bulky and really jaded in my opinion. Their technology is much better. I am very happy with the one I got.