Training for a half marathon or marathon? You’re probably familiar with the ups and downs of doing a long run. It’s totally normal to love running one second and hate it the next. Mid-run I love the taste of mocha gu, but it’s probably gross to just have as a snack. Running is weird. And awesome.
Check out the ups and downs and ups again of the long run…

Pre-run: Coffee time!! Let’s do this. Coffee. Banana. PB. Eat sip eat.

![long run blog 27[3] long run blog 27[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-273_thumb.gif)
Mile 1: Feel a little tight, just need to warm up.

Mile 2: Okay, feeling good! Nice and loose this is going to be fun!!
![long run blog 25[3] long run blog 25[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-253_thumb.gif)
Mile 3: When am I supposed to take gu? How much am I supposed to drink with it??

Mile 4: “’Cause we’re young and we’re reckless We’ll take this way too far It’ll leave you breathless or with a nasty scar…”

![long run blog 14[3] long run blog 14[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-143_thumb.gif)
Mile 5: I feel great! I’m rocking this!!


Mile 5.5: Nope. nope nope nope
![long run blog 31[3] long run blog 31[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-313_thumb.gif)
![long run blog 30[3] long run blog 30[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-303_thumb.gif)
Mile 6: Ahhh, crap CHAFING. This is going to burn later…
![long run blog 8[3] long run blog 8[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-83_thumb.gif)
Mile 7: Mmmm, this gu is really good! What flavor is this?
I should take a selfie! (notices I have gu on my face during selfie snapping)
![long run blog 15[3] long run blog 15[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-153_thumb.gif)
Mile 8: Pancakes with blueberries or bananas? Ooooh, bananas and chocolate chips.
![long run blog 9[3] long run blog 9[3]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-93_thumb.gif)
Mile 9: *Remembers that time I was super sunburnt and covered myself in lotion and everyone at Starbucks thought I was super sweaty. I’m the worst”
![long run blog 10[4] long run blog 10[4]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-104_thumb.gif)
Mile 9.5: Downhill! Woooo-hooo!!! I’m so fast.

Mile 10: Ugh this gu is disgusting. Everything is chafing. My legs are tired. My eyelashes are tired…

Mile 11: No seriously, I quit. I don’t care if I can’t get a refund on the race. I don’t even care. I don’t care!
Mile 11.25… GET IT TOGETHER MONICAN!!!
![long run blog 33[4] long run blog 33[4]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-334_thumb.gif)
Mile 12: ‘Second wind!! My an anaconda don’t want none…’

Mile 13: I RAN 13 MILES!!!!!!!! I am a beast! Do not f with me! I run the world.
![long run blog 6[4] long run blog 6[4]](https://runeatrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/long-run-blog-64_thumb.gif)
Post-run: I’m hungry. No, I’m sore. Ugh I’m tired. My shower needs a chair. Can I eat in the shower?

Love it – extremely accurate. Have you ever seen the 8 Stages of Marathon Running? It makes me smile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItnxJLAOeY
That couldn’t be a more accurate recap of my half this weekend (San Jose rock n roll)! Love it
My “hating this” moments are always earlier in the race/run. I hate miles 1-3 usually. Then I usually get in a groove. Once over the halfway hump, I feel much better, and then it’s mental math: Ok at 8, only 5 more to go. Now 9, only 4 to go (etc…) Of course now I’m upping it to a full. So we’ll see how that goes.
Love your blog! You make me laugh on the reg. Quick question. I’ve been training for a half and aerobic wise I feel awesome and like I could run no prob but joint/muscle wise I haven’t had a pain free run since week one. Today I had intense stabbing knife like pain in my left groin. Wtf is up with that? Do I need to stretch more before the run? My lady bidness and I need help if I’m going to finish this training cycle. Gracias!
I can’t tell you how many long runs I feel like everything including the eyelashes hurt!
I missed my long run this weekend. Managed 2.5 on a treadmill before going on vacation. And all this walking (sightseeing) has caused my peroneal tendinitis to flare so I’m not sure when I can run again. #waaaahhh #runjuries
This was extremely hilarious and soon true! HAHAHAH
So much truth! I run half marathons by myself often just for fun (glad I can say that here and not be judged! lol) but raced one this weekend and this.was.accurate! Great post. 🙂
YES!
Although I haven’t ran long distance for a few years now, this is so funny and accurate…now I have the stages of total body conditioning and stretching…eek! But I love it so so much and my body has made such incredible transformations after starting to do yoga more consistently!
xo
800% accurate