First Long Run of 2026!

First Long Run of 2026! 10 Hilly Miles!

Not every run is about time and speed. In fact, the weekly long run while training for a marathon shouldn’t be about time or speed at all.

Today I set out to tackle the Newton Hills and cover 10 miles of distance on foot. This was my first long run of 2026 and double digit mile run in over a year! While the last few miles were more than challenging, forcing me to walk more than I had hoped, my goals today weren’t about running at all:

• Get out of bed and out the door - no excuses! Not even the 19 degree temperatures  

• Cover 10 miles of distance on foot - regardless of pace

• Start reminding my body what elevation feels like

Thankfully, I accomplished all three! I also took note of things that I need to do better next time, like fueling my body and blocking out the negative thoughts that inevitably creep in when things start to get hard.

This is my third time training to run this course, but it’s never an easy process. Every step leads to one more milestone and makes me stronger and more prepared, both mentally and physically.

16 weeks. Forward is a pace. #keepgoing #rebekahsangels #stillirun