Kim and Zenaida’s Tuesday Topics link-up for today is all about your pre-long run or pre-race routine! Read on to hear my thoughts.
I thought about sharing my pre-race routine, but I’m a little out of practice with races, ha!
But I’ve been consistent with my Saturday long runs throughout the pandemic. So I thought it would make more sense to share my pre-long run routine.
I’m a Saturday long run gal; I rarely do my long run on Sundays. I like to have a glass or two of wine on Saturday night and sleep in a bit on Sundays. Its the only day of the week that I really can do that! So unless the weather is terrible on Saturday and much more promising on Sunday, I almost always do my long run on Saturday. Maybe that’s part of why I love a Saturday marathon so much, it’s what I’m used to in my training! (But so many marathons are on Sundays, aren’t they??)
My husband and I are both distance runners and we don’t have kids, so our Friday nights are generally very low-key. After a long week of work and training, we rarely make plans on Friday nights. Instead, we almost always order a Punch pizza.
If you’re local to Minneapolis, you probably are familiar with Punch! It’s a super fast Neopolitan pizza place. The pizzas are thin and feel relatively more healthy than some pizza places. And its delicious and a perfect dose of pre-long run carbs!
Sometimes I will have a glass of wine on Friday, even before a long run, but I wouldn’t do this before a marathon or goal race of any kind!
I check the forecast on Friday night to see the hourly temperature for when I start my long run (which is usually around 8 am, earlier in the hot summer months.) I’ll also look at the forecasted temperature for when I’ll finish running to see if it warms up a lot, and plan accordingly.
Then I’ll set out my ‘kit’ or apparel for the long run, ensure I have some Gatorade in the fridge, and that I have some GU/gels ready so that’s I’m not rushing around Saturday morning to find everything.
(For a race, a bit more thought goes into the “race kit!”)
On Saturday mornings, I like to give myself at least an hour before I run to eat an English muffin with peanut butter and jam, a cup of coffee or espresso, and a big glass of ice-cold Nuun!
I’ve dealt with Achilles issues recently so I am diligent about using the Theragun on my calves both Friday night and Saturday morning (briefly) before I run, and I do a few simple stretches and calf raises to loosen things up.
And that’s it! It’s such a part of my normal weekend routine, that I don’t really think about it that much anymore.
Running is not exercise. It’s a lifestyle!
It’s so much a part of my life that it’s weird when I don’t have a weekend long run. And the long run is often one of my favorite parts of the weekend; I’m sure to non-runners, it seems weird that I spend most of my weekend focused on a long run, but to distance runners, it makes sense, right?
Anyways, be sure to check out Zenaida and Kim’s blog for other posts about pre-race or pre-long run routines!
You are well organized, Jessie!
I prefer doing my long runs on Saturday as well. It makes Sunday much more relaxing.
I was very fortunate in my last training round because I could do my long runs on Fridays. Our Friday evenings are very low key as well. We basically just relax on the sofa and have a glass of wine. I love it!
Thanks Catrina! I love having Saturday to recover post-long run and then you are totally right, a more relaxing Sunday. I love a Friday long run too! I just did one last week when I took a random Friday off and it made the weekend feels so long and glorious!
I liked what you said about running being a lifestyle! That’s how I feel. I work on Saturday at least once a month, so my long run falls to Sunday sometimes. I’m with you on preferring Saturday. But I refuse to get up super early on Saturday, lol
I will get up on the really hot days to try to avoid the worst part of the day if possible!
And yes, its totally just a lifestyle. It’s what we do!
I’m a long-run-Saturday gal, too. Since I haven’t been doing long runs until recently (#stressfracture), I almost feel giddy getting all the gear rounded up & laid out on Friday night 🙂
Haha, me too! I love the tradition/routine of the long run.
Since I don’t work (sort of, at least not paid for it at the moment), I have the freedom to do my long run (which isn’t real long right now) almost any day I want to. I actually like that! In fact, this week it was on Monday. Cause, second vaccine. Just in case I didn’t feel like running after that. I definitely need breakfast before a long run — even a short long run — and I need at least an hour & a half to digest it! I do take a fair amount of time with some rolling… Read more »
Having that freedom is enviable!
I would be better served to have breakfast before my shorter weekday runs too, but there isn’t enough time!
Love this peek into your routine! I prefer to do my longest run on Saturday too, mostly because i have church on Sunday. I prefer to get started before 7 am, or even early if I can drag myself out of bed!
Thanks Coco! Yes, the earlier the better when its warm. But in the winter in Minneapolis, it helps to wait around a little until the temperature rises a bit!
Thanks for the insight into your routine. Very interesting. I’m Sunday long run guy, but my routine is pretty much doing the lunge matrix and heading out.
Do you ever do fasting long runs? I don’t do many, but believe they can help acclimate myself to hitting the wall when done at the right time in a buildup.
My coach Esther has prescribed fasted long runs for my friend Christie (and I’m sure other athletes of hers) but I actually don’t really buy into it, just my personal opinion! I think it hinders recovery and I’m (usually) running so much that I don’t want to be that depleted. I’m sure it works though! And I can’t say I won’t ever try it if my coach really wants me to!
I am team Saturday long runs too, and yet I’ve got my half marathon happening this Sunday, go figure! I appreciate seeing your routine!
Ha, why are so many races on Sundays!! Go luck at your half, Janelle!
I also enjoy my long runs on Saturday. It gives me a day to recover before going back to work on Monday. Also, I am so exhausted by Friday that I rarely make any plans (especially now) and I can go home and relax before my long run the next day.
Exactly! Relax Friday, long run Saturday, relax more on Saturday night 🙂
To me this all makes sense! But I know to many of my friends, they don’t “get” how every weekend is dedicated to a long run! I alternate my long runs between Saturday and Sunday depending on the week I’ve had. If it’s been too intense and I start feeling a sense of “dread” for the run, I usually move it to Sunday. But if it’s been a normal week, then I do it on Saturday.
My colleagues often ask what I’m up to over the weekend and my answers are always about running!
I definitely like doing my long runs on Saturdays whenever it works out! Its nice to get it done early in the weekend. I also like to have a couple glasses on wine on Saturday night. I usually have pasta the night before my long run, but pizza is great too!
Yes, I know what you mean about the long run being your favorite part of the weekend! I look forward to mine all week.
Reading your post makes me realize that I should be eating more before my long runs. It’s just usually so hot here that I want to get out the door ASAP. I also never drink Nuun beforehand, and I should. I’m going to re-think my routine!