My long runs have began to be run consistently before school starts every Friday morning, now that I have increased my time to two hours I am getting myself up by 5am to give myself time to get everything ready to start running by 5:40-45, this leaves me enough time to complete the run by around 7:40am. At first this was hard, especially having to run through the dark, and know I will have to go to school after.
While my body was transitioning into the change of impact and distance I would start to feel the fatigue and pain throughout the day leaving me exhausted by mid day, but as I have continued this every week I have adjusted to how my body copes through the physical conditioning making it better throughout the day, and easier getting up at the early time as it’s become a regular routine, with all my other training sessions predominantly being morning starts too.
I make sure I fuel up before my runs generally with two slices of my gf toast with 1.5 servings of peanut butter and half a banana sliced on top, generally with maple syrup too. This is a breakfast I get excited to eat and provides me with all my needed long term energy fats and quick carbs to get me through the run, as well as the 2 servings of energy in forms of gels, bars etc. my passion for running has continued to increase and I get excited to run making it slightly easier again as I know once I start I will feel 110% better and after even more.
Getting my run sessions done in the morning has been a game changer for me as I am full of energy, able to fuel appropriately and then have the rest of the day to myself feeling accomplished throughout. I have recently been splitting my runs so I run 1/4 out and back then can have a drink before taking another route for the other half of the run, this also means I don’t have to carry water, as well as drop my head touch, and warmer clothes half way once the sun has risen and I have warmed up.
This makes the run go by quicker as I have ran the same route so many times as well as lets me feel more light without having to carry excess weight. I have enjoyed having to structure my training to my everyday life and this has been a way I can while keeping consistent and I have definitely been able to see the improvements both physically and mentally, I can’t wait to see it continue to get better in the coming future.
– Jessica Bray