I recommend:
-taking the first 2-3 miles out slow, as a warm-up. Ease into it.
-turning the watch/buzz off. I have mine set so overall pace doesn’t show. It helps a lot so you don’t go “Pace Crazy” and run how you feel your effort should be.
-my last 2 long runs I have done in loops, and it has helped me mentally break it down. my 18 was 3 – 6 miles loops. and my 20 I did 12 miles, then 8 miles. looping back to my house to refuel and use the bathroom or wherever your car is.
-I try not to think about the mileage as much as possible. And I definitely don’t think about it until the night before.

I hope this helps!! Good luck this weekend! You can do it!

My longer runs may be a short run for you (lol) but I like to just go out and enjoy the scenery, the companionship and the sport itself

This is funny, b/c I am struggling with the opposite! My long runs and endurance are feeling great. Speedwork? Not so much.

I think you have the right idea about starting slow–this can be the key to long run success. Good luck!

I’m still a fairly new runner, only at the 5K level and trying to up my distance/endurance on the weekends and I have the exact same problems! I start way to fast and focus too much on my watch and running app. I’m starting to try and run in the Metroparks, hoping pretty scenery will help keep me in a better frame of mind.

Oh I hear you on this. And I do think part of of it is definitely mental, psyching yourself out. But also, depending on your routine, by the weekend, you’re probably starting to be just tired. I know I am. From work, workouts, life…just starting to get tired. I try so hard to make sure to get rest day in the day before a long run so I feel more refreshed mentally and physically.

I have to really get myself psyched for the long run. My long runs are slower than I’d like but they fall in the training range on McMillans calculator. Have you used the calculator to see if you are on pace? You might surprise yourself.
Sometimes just getting through that long run is good training mentally because you force yourself to keep going when you really, REALLY want to quit.

What I’ve been doing when my mind is screaming at me to give up, is take a really good hill up so I can enjoy a wonderful FASTER paced run when I go down it. If it’s steep enough, I allow myself to walk and run it.
The other thing I do is bring money with me and tell myself if I want to stop for a break, have a cup of coffee, I can do it. After all, I’m no professional and come race day, I know I’ll keep going.

GREAT shift in focus going into your long runs my friend. It’s the same approach I try to use with my own long runs — enjoy the miles vs. dreading them (it also helps that I have Scott with me, I do realize), and place less importance on them overall – it’s *just* a run, right?? Hang in there!!

This is what happened to me going into my second half of the year. I totally burnt myself out with training and dreaded my long runs. Maybe it’s the same with you? Perhaps you just need a break (after the marathon)?

I hate mental runs! Turn off th buzzer for sure or don’t wear a watch for those runs maybe? Good luck. Take it slow!!

I tend to be pretty mellow on my long runs. My mid-week runs are usually solo, so the long runs I do with friends. It’s great to have conversations as the miles fly by. Maybe try mixing it up? Try a trail? Find a run buddy? You have some great suggestions above and I hope you break out of the “long-run funk”

Have you tried breaking the run up in your mind? Like I am going to run 8 miles. Then once you are done (not necessarily back home), you run another 8. I find this helps me a lot!

@Heather (Where’s the Beach) BTW – nominating you for an award on my blog later today

I find that breaking up the long run into segments seems to help…be it loops or going from running through a neighborhood and then taking it to a park and what not.
I also find that listening to podcasts helps A LOT! I can tune out music and focus on the pain or waiting for the watch to beep … oy! But a podcast keeps my attention and I remain in a better headspace.
However, long runs, no matter which way you look at them are hard…ugh!

Hang in there Heather! I did a long run this weekend to see if I could still pull off some long runs with the idea of doing Philly still. We did 7 miles in the mid morning heat on Saturday and came back with 16 miles yesterday in the humid conditions. I forgot how tough it gets after about 14 miles, plus we were intentionaly tired from the 7 on Saturday. I like some of the advice here on breaking up the run. We did two 6.5 mile road loops and then went out and back on the Towpath for the last 3 miles. That always seems to help when we break up the long run into 3-4 smaller efforts. Thinking about the River Run half next weekend. Don’t worry, you are doing great!

My “long” run is about 10 miles and I only do that before a race – normally I’m a quick 3-5 because I have the attention span of a 5 year old. BUT, I do run with a friend, she keeps me going.

Honestly, even though I’m new to running, I can’t imagine wanting to go more than a 5k. I’m seriously just not interested. I’m not lazy about it, I just enjoy that number. The thought of going more really does kind of turn me off a little. I’m sorry this is not going so well for you. Hopefully you will find that groove again soon!