ABOUT THIS EPISODE
You’re training for 13.1 miles.
But does that mean you actually need to run 13.1 miles before race day?
And if you haven't… how can you possibly know you'll finish?
In Episode 9 of the SLAY Performance Series, Olympian, coach and SLAY founder Louise Hazel breaks down one of the most important - and misunderstood - sessions in half-marathon training: The long run.
Because your long run isn't an exam. It’s a rehearsal. And its purpose isn't to prove that you can run a half marathon. It's to prepare your body to.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Whether you need to run 13.1 miles before your race
• How far your longest training run should be
• Why time on your feet can matter as much as mileage
• How fast your long runs should actually be
• Whether walking during a long run “counts”
• Why racing your long runs could sabotage the rest of your week
• How to practice race-day fueling and hydration
• What to do when a long run goes badly
• Whether you should make up a missed long run
• Why strength becomes increasingly important as fatigue sets in
• How to recover after your longest sessions
• The six-part SLAY Long Run Checklist
This week, Louise challenges you to stop simply completing your long run and start rehearsing race day. Practice your breakfast. Wear your race-day kit. Carry your fuel. Control your pace. Pay attention to what happens when you get tired.
Then ask: What worked? What didn’t? And what will I change next time?
The goal isn’t to arrive at race day having proved you can survive 13.1 miles. It’s to arrive healthy, prepared and confident enough to execute them.
Subscribe to the SLAY Podcast and join us each week as we build stronger runners—physically, mentally and emotionally.
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/slay/id1393889958
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX5I8e0HAZxB-SEvp4oLCCA
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