Long runs

I typically run 6 miles twice a day, so a long run for me is anything over 8 miles.  I started tracking this a few years ago as I started doing marathon races.  I don’t think long runs are really needed to run a decent marathon (at least for me).  In my case, the best chances for me at a marathon are to arrive at the start line relatively healthy and long-runs just beat me up too much.  So my goal now is to get to the marathon healthy and put in a few of what I consider long runs.

I’m ahead of my pace for last year with 21 runs over 8 miles thus far.  Last year I didn’t reach my 21^st long run until September.  My goal is to put in at least 2 long runs every month.  Time will tell if this will help me beat my time from Baystate last year (2:57).

2018	Run's over 8 miles this year
	No.	Date	Dist	Time	Pace	Location
	1	14-Jan	10	1:18:40	07:52	Bradford/Haverhill
	2	15-Jan	10	1:25:55	08:35	Topsfield
	3	27-Jan	10	1:31:17	09:08	Petey's
	4	28-Jan	10	1:25:49	08:35	Topsfield
	5	2-Feb	12	1:35:10	07:56	Minuteman and narrow gauge
	6	3-Feb	14	2:04:07	08:52	Cranberry bog 7 x2
	7	6-Feb	15	1:56:45	07:47	3x Industrial park 5
	8	10-Feb	11	1:29:49	08:10	3xfudge with Dave La
	9	11-Feb	14	1:41:43	07:16	Harborside Half-marathon s
	10	19-Feb	13	1:39:58	07:41	Harborside Half-marathon course plus
	11	25-Feb	13	1:49:43	08:26	Freeman rail trail (7 in 755s, 6 in 900s)
	12	8-Mar	10	1:20:36	08:04	2x Industrial park 5 (very snowy)
	13	11-Mar	20	2:46:20	08:19	3xCranberry bog with D-la
	14	13-Mar	10	1:19:26	07:57	2x Industrial park 5 (very snowy)
	15	14-Mar	12	1:33:47	07:49	2x Ind pk 6 very slick from yesterday
	16	26-Mar	10	1:18:04	07:48	Z-hills loops
	17	27-Mar	15	1:51:36	07:26	Z-hills loops
	18	8-Apr	10	1:24:43	08:28	Merrimack river trail
	19	15-Apr	10.2	1:32:04	09:02	Granite State Racing team group run
	20	16-May	16	1:51:20	06:58	Windham rail trail
	21	18-May	12	1:34:43	07:54	Newfields rail trail with Albee & Brandon Newbould