Long run life

Miles and miles of ramblings

  • Running
  • Race reports
  • Running technology
  • Life
  • Cycling
Home » workouts

Joyful running is all about loving the daily process

March 7, 2017 by Brent

joyful running

As I worked on a talk for our 10K and 5K training group last week, I thought a lot about how running affects my mind. The talk focused on training your brain to run and why mental toughness is important. I can pull so many examples from my own experiences. So many times I struggled […]

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: Boston Marathon, BQ, fitness, goals, long run, marathon, marathon training, motivation, negativity, patience, run, runner, running, San Diego, training, training plan, workouts

Wrapping up 2016 with a PR in the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon

December 19, 2016 by Brent

San Diego Holiday Half Marathon

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Or so the radio stations in every store I enter tell me. So why not finish 2016 with one more PR? Sunday brought just that, as I set a new PR at the San Diego Holiday Half Marathon. It wasn’t expected, which is the best kind of personal […]

Filed Under: Race reports Tagged With: fitness, goals, Holiday Half Marathon, long run, marathon, marathon training, motivation, patience, race, race plan, race report, run, runner, running, San Diego, San Diego Holiday Half Marathon, Shreveport, training, training plan, workouts

Taper madness is real, and it’s terrifying

December 17, 2016 by Brent

taper madness

Typically, I don’t taper. I hate the mental craziness that comes along, the taper madness. I have read many blog posts from athletes tapering. Those stories normally curse the weeks directly preceding a big race. Taper madness, triggered by inactivity following weeks of intense training, includes wild food cravings, outbursts of misdirected frustration, and sometimes the […]

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: Boston Marathon, BQ, fitness, goals, long run, marathon, marathon training, motivation, patience, plan, race, race plan, run, runner, running, San Diego, taper, taper madness, track, track work, training, training plan, workouts

Back on track — literally (time to add back speedwork)

December 9, 2016 by Brent

on track

As of last night, I’m back on track. Literally. My running in the past six months hasn’t been the best. I struggled through sickness, and my monthly mileage dropped to the lowest it’s been in three years. But for the past three months, I’ve rebuilt my base. November was a breakthrough running month in a lot […]

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: fitness, goals, marathon, marathon training, motivation, run, runner, running, San Diego, Shreveport, speed work, tempo, track, track work, track workout, training, training plan, west coast, workouts

No running music? Make your own rhythm

December 7, 2016 by Brent

running music

  I made a decision in September of last year to give up running music. I had just completed my running coach certification class, and the teacher had been adamant. “As a coach, you should be an example for the running community. That means no running music. No earbuds. Set an example of safety.” His message, […]

Filed Under: Running Tagged With: cadence, earbuds, fitness, goals, headphones, long run, marathon, marathon training, motivation, music, run, runner, running, running music, running rhythm, San Diego, Shreveport, speed work, tempo, track, track work, track workout, training, training plan, west coast, workouts

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

About me

Brent Shirley My name is Brent Shirley, and I'm a stay-at-home dad with experience writing and selling running shoes. Married to a surgeon (she's much smarter than me). Certified RRCA running coach and 11 time Boston Marathon qualifier (2015-25, although I missed the cut in 2015-16). 50 sub 4 finisher.

Subscribe

Strava

Follow me on Strava
Instagram Feed
Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.
Follow

Twitter feed

Something went wrong with the twitter. Please check your credentials and twitter username in the twitter settings.

Older posts

Recent Comments

  • Robert Wong on 2025 Eugene Marathon — self worth and the time on the clock
  • Todd Parker on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware
  • Brent on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware
  • Shelley Ryan Gray on Thoughts on finishing 50 sub 4 goal at Rehoboth Beach Marathon in Delaware

Popular tags

5K 2020 Boston Boston 2025 Boston Marathon Boston qualifier BQ california fitness goals heat heat running humidity Las Vegas life long run marathon marathon training motivation negativity Nevada Ohio patience PR race race plan race report race weekend run runner running San Diego Shreveport speed work summer summer running tempo track track work track workout training training plan west west coast workouts

Calendar

May 2025
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031  
« Oct    

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...