Countdown to the Half: 11 Weeks

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I survived my first week of half marathon training, and my first race since our long summer break! I’m so glad I signed up for the Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival 5K.

Reynoldstown Wheelbarrow Festival 5K

I was scheduled to run four miles this weekend, so when I hit the finish line, I just kept running. I think everyone thought I was insane, but hey – you gotta do what you gotta do.

Because I’m still rather out of shape, running four miles takes me a fairly long time. Luckily, I recently met my new favorite running buddy.

Apple - iPod Shuffle
Photo via Apple

I’ve never been a fan of listening to music while I run outdoors. I get anxious when I can’t hear everything in my area – cars, bicyclists, rapists, angry geese, etc. But I recently discovered that when you listen to podcasts, you can still hear the world around you. Maybe because of the space in between the words? I’m a newly-minted fan of Pete Holmes’ You Made It Weird podcast, so I had a great time on Saturday, cackling to myself and looking like a crazy person while I jogged along.

Pete Holmes - You Made It Weird - Podcast
Photo via Bumpershine

(Sidenote: I absolutely love Pete Holmes. I interviewed him during Just For Laughs Chicago, and he is the funniest person I’ve ever met, hands down. The first time I listened to his podcast with Jenny Slate, I laughed until I cried. You should check it out. You should also watch this video from our interview. I’m the harpy cackling in the background.)

Anyway, back to running. Brad was kind enough to let me borrow the iPod Shuffle I got him for his birthday, but I’ll have to get my own soon, to use on days when we run at the same time (but not together). I’m waiting until Wednesday, though, because I heard Apple might announce more color options! I’m holding out on the off-chance they decide to release a gold glitter version. It could happen, right?!

I think this little guy is going to be extremely helpful when my long runs start getting really long and lonely. We’ve only got a few more weeks of single digit distances. YIKES.

To my fellow runners out there: Do you ever run with headphones? If not, how do you fight boredom during your long runs?

  • Mgraceshore

    Any exercise, anywhere, is faster, easier and more enjoyable while being distracted. TV, music, audible books, comedy – all make it go by faster. That’s the goal, right?
    Watch out for the cranky geese though!

    • http://www.glitterandgoatcheese.com Steph F.

      Oh, definitely. I know it’s not ideal to be distracted while you’re running in the road, but I figure I can handle a LITTLE multi-tasking. I am a woman, after all!

  • Jill

    During the earlier part of my half training, I decided to ditch headphones.  Then someone told me I’d likely need my phone on my at the event to link up with my peoples, so I figured if I’m lugging the darned thing around, I may as well get some music out of it, too.  I did my first long run with music this weekend and felt so much more distracted and focused (can you be both?) so now I think I’m a headphones convert.  I hadn’t thought of a podcast, though, so now I’m excited to try those out!

    • http://www.glitterandgoatcheese.com Steph F.

      Ooh, good call! I unwisely ditched my phone for our last half, and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to find my friends at the end of the race … Wandering around on tired, sore feet is not the best way to end a 13.1 mile run!

  • mollyml05

    I run with an iPod shuffle and I love it! I hate carrying anything when I run, so being able to clip on a lightweight iPod and go is perfect for me. I can run without music, but for longer runs, I prefer having something to distract me from the monotony and pump me up.

    • http://www.glitterandgoatcheese.com Steph F.

      The size is the BEST part! It’s amazing how far iPods have come … I used to run with a huge armband back in the day. 

  • Mrs. Skunk

    I am training for the Atlanta Half and had a seven mile long run this morning.  I don’t use headphone because like you I feel like I’m going to ‘miss’ what’s going on around me.  My trick is going for runs at sunrise so that I’m distracted/focused on the city waking up.  And so the rest of the day I won’t have to be begrudgingly looking towards a run.  

    • http://www.glitterandgoatcheese.com Steph F.

      Oh, I admire you! How do you get up that early??!!!
      Also, YAY for someone else doing the Atlanta Half! Have you done it before?

      • Mrs. Skunk

        I do long runs on Thursdays, and I have class at 10am, so I figure I have about three hours to kill before class.  I hate waking up that early (and I hate running, but that’s a different story) but I know if I don’t do it, it won’t get done.  

        Jonathan (hubs) and I did it back in 2009.  We both vowed to never run long distance again.  Three years later, I want another go.  Funny how that happens.