Training for a long distance race can bring out the best and the worst in you, so it's important to make sure you are taking care of yourself both physically and mentally during a long training cycle. My biggest recommendation is to find a group of people who will both challenge and encourage you- people you can have fun with but also work hard with. I used to dread my long runs when I was running solo, but now that I run with a group it is one of the highlights of my week (as crazy as that sounds)!

I also make sure to set micro goals along the way to keep myself motivated. If my main goal is a marathon, I'll pick out a couple of shorter races throughout my plan. It's encouraging to see your 5k time improve or to run a fun half marathon to remind yourself how much you love racing. This way you won't get bogged down when your race might seem so far away. I also make sure to try new things only during training and never on race day! Everything from the clothes you will wear, the shoes you will run in, and the food you will eat or carry should be worn or tested during training runs so that there are no surprises on your big day. I've learned (through trial and error) that I love Oiselle stride shorts, New Balance shoes, and Cliff bars the most!

Lastly, keeping a training log is vital. Recording your runs helps you keep track of your monthly mileage, and allows you to look back and see how you've improved as a runner. It also lets you see your strength and weaknesses with different types of workouts! I recommend using the Strava app to keep all of your information in one place and to connect with friends in your running community.

You can follow Lauren on Instagram @howelltothemoon for more tips!