When you start running more than an hour at a time, boredom can sometimes enter the equation. Don’t get me wrong—some long runs seem to fly by, and you’re done before you know it. Others, however, seem to drag on and on and on. There are definitely things you can do to help pass the time on a long run, especially when you are feeling tired in the final miles.
Occasionally I listen to music, but more often than not, I listen to podcasts. Since I am a social media strategist for my “real job,” I like to listen to the Social Media Examiner podcast. I keep up to date on all of the new developments in my field by listening to Michael Stelzner interview different social media experts. Each episode is about 30-40 minutes long, so a nice 9-11 miler would cover about 3 episodes.
I also enjoy listening to the ladies from Another Mother Runner. Their Another Mother Runner radio has great podcasts that cover so many different running-related subjects. They are so funny, and I definitely find myself laughing out loud while running! Other popular podcasts with runners are Wait.Wait…Don’t Tell Me from NPR, The Rich Roll podcast, and the Marathon Show.
If music and podcasts aren’t your thing, why not check out an audiobook? Since many of us barely have time to read the calendar, let alone a book, you can catch up on your reading while checking your long run off your list! Audible.com has a great selection of audiobooks that you can download for your smartphone. If your marathon training, you will be reading more books than you have since college!
Hopefully, these suggestions will help you pass the time on your next long run. Just remember, it’s not uncommon to get bored on a long run. You just have to find a way that works for you to help distract yourself from the boredom and discomfort- once you find it, you may start looking forward to those long runs! It’s extended time you have to yourself! 🙂
If your legs are feeling tired after your long run, try throwing on a pair of compression socks to help with your recovery. When it’s cooler, I actually wear them during my long runs too. It’s made a HUGE difference in how my legs feel later on in the day and the following day!
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