5 Thoughts That I Had During My Weekend Long Run

I’m not going to lie—I had very little motivation to do anything resembling long distance running training last Saturday.

To start the day, Jess made waffles. Not long after that, I settled into a very long session of MLB The Show 17 on the PS4. In that world, I’m the 6’5 starting second baseman for the Angels and am leading the American League in RBIs. Unfortunately, that version of me is still on his rookie contract and is anxiously awaiting a gigantic payday.

By the time I finally got off the couch, it was 3 in the afternoon. Thanks to Daylight Savings Time, I had three hours to get a 1:30 long run in. With no excuses to let myself off the hook, how did I get through the workout? Here are a few things I thought about to pass the time.

I’ve Made This Hobby Expensive

Most of the runners that I know tend to agree that the barrier to entry for this hobby is fairly low. All you need is a pair of sneakers, right?

That should be true, but I’ve found plenty of ways to “invest” my disposable income in running gear. Those $3 socks from Target would probably be just fine, but the ones I wear during long runs claim to keep me warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather. No wonder they cost $15 a pair!

If there’s one thing I’m really a sucker for, it’s running shoes. I have a wide foot and overpronate like crazy, so the Brooks Adrenaline GTS has been my sneaker of choice for the past few years. The problem is that they generally start breaking down after 300 miles—and they’re $120 a pop. There are probably cheaper options that would work for me, but the Adrenalines got me through my first marathon, so don’t you dare take them from me.

That being said, I’m still not sure how I feel about the most recent update to the Adrenalines. In fact, I raced the 2018 NYC Half Marathon in the Saucony Omni 16, and I have to say, they felt pretty great.

The moral of this story? If you’re a manufacturer of running gear, I’m the easiest sale you’ll ever make.

I’m 31 Going On 91

Every morning, I watch CBS This Morning while Jess gets ready for work. I’m constantly worried that I don’t get enough calcium. And lately, I’ve paused my long distance running training mid-workout to browse garage sales and thrift shops.

Marketers would probably look at someone with interests like mine and say, “OK, so our target persona is anywhere from 75-90 years old.”

Last weekend, I came across a sign for a garage sale at mile 3 of my long run. And when I say “garage sale,” I mean that this man had opened the door to his garage for people to rummage through.

“Do you have any old video games?” I asked.

“I might,” he replied. “But if I do, they’re buried in the back. Come back in a couple days.”

You don’t need to tell me twice. See you next weekend, my friend!

The Giants Should Take Josh Rosen in the 2018 NFL Draft

I know, I know. This has nothing to do with long distance running training. But an hour and 30 minutes is a long time to be on your own, and sometimes I think about football. Sorry.

Before I get too worked up about what I think the Giants should do in this year’s NFL draft, I should say a couple things. First, I hate a lot of things about the NFL. But I love Eli Manning. And I love this shirt. My college roommate found it at a mall, and as soon as he told me about it, I hopped in my car and bought one.

Still, I think we’re all overthinking this whole thing. They should take a quarterback—and they should take Josh Rosen.

I have no data to suggest that this is a smart thing to do. I just get the feeling that he won’t completely break down when idiots like me start whining after a loss. Also, Eli is in his late-30s and plays a sport that, let’s be honest, human beings probably shouldn’t be playing for long periods of time. So it’s probably time to think about who’s next.

OK, Fine—Glute and Hip Strength is Pretty Important

“Don’t skip leg day,” said everyone who’s ever been to the gym. Except for me. I always used to skip leg day.

Then, I got injured and my physical therapist had me do nothing but leg days for two months. I still don’t like it, but the benefits are obvious. I have a better idea of what good form should look and feel like. As a result, my “easy” pace is quicker than it has ever been.

My least favorite exercise? Mountain climbers on sliders. The last time I did them in PT, I almost collapsed. So naturally, I bought a couple of Synergee Gliding Discs to punish myself in the comfort of my own home!

Are there any leg, glute, or core exercises that help your long distance running training? How about any that make you sad? Let me know and maybe I’ll record myself doing them for your entertainment.

This Whole Toys ‘R’ Us Thing Makes Me Sad

At the end of my long run, I stumbled into a Toys ‘R’ Us. I knew the “sales” wouldn’t be any good, but I figured I’d take a quick lap for nostalgia’s sake. I hadn’t been to a Toys ‘R’ Us in at least 10 years, but as soon as I walked in, I got super emotional about the whole thing.

Some of my favorite memories of Toys ‘R’ Us include:

• The time when I had chicken pox and my mom bought me the Ghostbusters firehouse (which apparently goes for around $50 on eBay now).
• That time I got my first Goosebumps book and was *terrified* to go home and read it.
• The time I got World Series Baseball ’96 for the Sega Genesis.

Are your thoughts during your long distance running training as incoherent as mine? Am I the only one who’s all over the place like this? Let me know in the comments below!