• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Mile By Mile

Life is what happens when you're busy running marathons...

  • Home
    • Contact Page
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recent Posts
  • Run Coaching
    • Coaching Philosophy
    • Contact Page
  • Left Menu Extras

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Training Plans & Downloadable Resources
    • Store
    • Cart
    • Checkout
    • Virtual Race Resource Guide
  • Running
    • Running Posts
      • Runners’ Roundup
      • Fartlek Friday
    • Favorites
    • Races
    • Workouts
      • Running Workouts
      • Strength Training Workouts
  • Right Menu Extras

Fit Five Friday

It's just as important to mentally prepare for a race as it is to physically prepare. Try the 5 strategies to get you ready to stay focused and mentally strong on race day.

5 Ways to Mentally Prepare for a Race

July 16, 2021view the post

Well somehow it is July already! In some ways I feel like it's hard to believe we are halfway through 2021. But I also feel like it's been summer for MONTHS already, so how can it only be the beginning of July? As usual, it's time to start out the month with some coffee. Since there has been a heat wave I'll be enjoying mine iced.

July Coffee in a Heat Wave

July 2, 2021view the post

cicadas

Halfway Through 2021 Runfessions

June 25, 2021view the post

This has been an interesting month as I've navigated running during the Brood X cicada invasion which happens every 17 years. While I am not a fan of cicadas, they are harmless so I have continued to run while they have been around. I've learned that there are other periodic cicadas that will be out in the coming years, although I'm not sure if it will be as bad as this. Here is what you need to know for continuing to run when the periodical cicadas invade.

5 Tips for Continuing to Run when the Periodical Cicadas Invade

June 18, 2021view the post

How are we 4 days into June already! May really flew by, although it was a challenging month. Of course now as the weather improves time starts to go by faster. I remember thinking that January would never end! Anyway, here we are welcoming June over coffee.

Welcoming June Over Coffee

June 4, 2021view the post

I can't believe Memorial Day is this weekend! It definitely snuck up on me this year. With everything that's been going on this month I could use a long weekend. Before spending some extra time (hopefully) relaxing, its probably a good idea to share some runfessions of the unofficial start of summer.

Runfessions of the Unofficial Start of Summer

May 28, 2021view the post

As we quickly approach the start of summer running season, there are a few logistical things you can do to get prepared! Now is a good time to start getting ready for those hot, sunny runs so you can continue training and run your best. Here are 5 reminders to help you prepare for summer running.

5 Reminders to Help You Prepare for Summer Running

May 14, 2021view the post

Last weekend I ran a virtual relay race as part of the Pittsburg Marathon. I'm not writing a race recap, but I did want to share a few race reflections! What better time to do that than over a warm cup of (strong) coffee? I have a few other things to share as well.

Virtual Relay Race Reflections Over Coffee

May 7, 2021view the post

It’s the end of the month again which means it's time for runfessions of April 2021! This was a weird month for me, and thinking back on past years April is usually a struggle. Let's jump right in and get to the most recent running confessions.

Runfessions of April 2021

April 30, 2021view the post

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

© 2025 Mile By Mile Blog All rights reserved

Footer

Mile By Mile Running

Life Is What Happens When You're Busy Running Marathons

Lets Run!
  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Yesterday’s long run was not what I wanted it to Yesterday’s long run was not what I wanted it to be. The plan was to take the day off from work, head to the trail where I could run 10 uninterrupted miles at MP (16 total) and practice my race day fueling while wearing my race day shoes.

What actually happened? All week I was stressed about this run and the condition of the trail. We had lots of rain on Thursday, and Friday was forecasted to be very windy. I tried to get in the best mindset possible, reminding myself that I won’t be able to control the conditions on race day. Meanwhile, I haven’t been sleeping well thanks to my 2 year old waking up every night, and my watch has been basically telling me that I’m losing all my fitness and need a week of recovery.

While I started the run feeling pretty good, after 11 miles (7 at MP) my stomach turned and I almost got sick on the side of the trail. I just couldn’t recover from that. The best I could do was run the rest of the miles easy, and needed some walk breaks. On top of that, my shoe kept rubbing my foot on top and I stopped twice to retie it. This has never happened before and now I’m questioning what shoes I should wear for the race. The trail was also in rough condition with several trees blocking it, lots of wet leaves, and rocks/sticks that I had to look out for.

I just can’t believe how bad I felt for the last 5 miles of this run and I can’t pinpoint the cause. Am I overdoing it with the fueling and can’t handle it on harder effort runs? Was it something I ate recently? The hard part is there’s no time to really try something different before the race, as all I have left is a 10 mile easy run next weekend.

I’m trying to remember that one bad run does not take away from all the good runs this training cycle. I’m using today to reset and move on so I can make the most of my last 2 weeks of training. It’s not the way I wanted my last big long run to go, but I suppose it was good practice for pushing through even when I felt pretty awful.

Who else has had a terrible long run close to your race?

#running #marathontraining #longrun
Spent almost every step of this 21 mile run questi Spent almost every step of this 21 mile run questioning my life choices. Like waking up at 3am to run 12 miles on the treadmill and 9 outside. This was a crazy week with a kid that wasn’t sleeping great and fighting a cold and super busy days at work. My legs were just tired the whole time today. It was really hard to run outside after so many treadmill miles and my pace was much slower than inside.

I reminded myself that this is peak week. It’s supposed to feel hard. If it was easy everyone would do it. I ran 53 miles this week and am not injured. The weather is perfect. I’ve gotten in every planned run of this training cycle so far.  I get to do this. 

And I managed to finish strong with my last 3 miles the fastest of the (outside) run. I owe that to a solid fueling plan and taking all my gels even when I really didn’t want to.

3 weeks to go until race day!

#running #marathontraining #longrun
Yesterday’s long run was followed immediately by Yesterday’s long run was followed immediately by back to back kid activities, so there was no time to post about it. (I ate breakfast in the car and lunch at soccer practice- it was that kind of a day.) I was kind of nervous going in to this run, especially now that I’m getting down to last few key long runs. I had 16 miles with 4 x 2 miles on the plan, which sounded manageable but also challenging. The weather was perfect and I hit all my paces. At the end I got a little confused- thinking I was at 15 miles but I was actually at 14 🙃 Got home and realized I chafed really bad. Another long run down, and another week closer to race day.

Do you ever psych yourself out before long runs?

#running #marathontraining #longrun
1 month to go! Who else is just trying to survive 1 month to go! Who else is just trying to survive the peak weeks of marathon training? #running #marathontraining
Follow on Instagram

Some of the links on my site are affiliate links. This means that I may receive a small compensation for clicks and/or purchases, but this will not cost you anything. Your support is greatly appreciated!

 

© Mile By Mile Blog, 2025. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Mile by Mile Blog with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Mile by Mile Running · Copyright © 2025

Copyright © 2025 · Carpe Diem on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in