Experimenting

I have a marathon in less than 18 weeks.  Which means that the long run is going to have to make a reappearance in what I laughingly call my training schedule.

When I first started running, the distance from home to work seemed epic.  How would I ever manage to run four miles in one go?  But marathon training makes the world shrink.  Suddenly all those places that are too far away to run to become too close.  Even running to work and back would only be a pathetic eight miles.  And a dull eight miles at that.

But my weekends are precious, and the long run was the thing I really struggled with last time around.  So if possible, I would like to work at least some long runs into my commute.  So I’ve been plotting.  If I run along the river, straight through the park and down along the stream, that’s nine miles from work to home.  If I run along the river, take a roundabout route through the park and then head down along the stream, that’s eleven.  Along the river, round the perimeter of the park and back along the stream, that’s a half marathon.

I tried out the nine mile option this evening, and it’s gorgeous.  One hill, mixed terrain, babbling brooks and a bus option, if necessary, to knock off the last mile.  I’m definitely going to be trying out the other two, and looking about for some even longer options.  Long run commuting here I come.