friday night long runs.

so this past weekend, it just didn't look like i'd be getting in my intended 10 mile run saturday morning or sunday morning without causing some major stress (not enough time, too cold, too rainy, too windy, blah blah blah).

sooooo like a really good running gal, instead of just nixing my long run for the week, i decided to run 10 miles after work on friday.  this past summer, i had to do a few long runs on a friday night due to busy weekend schedules so i knew it was doable for me.

over the summer, i remember having mixed feelings about friday night long runs- but a few weeks ago when he-who-must-not-be-named and i were walking around downtown, i got nostalgic for those summer friday night runs along the river.

so, a few pros and cons of the friday night long run:


pros:

• i don't go out on friday nights anyway in order to be relaxed and ready to run long saturday morning.  a friday night long run doesn't eliminate a night out but it does eliminate an early alarm saturday morning.  
• no "friday night nerves."  it doesn't matter how many long runs i complete, i always always always get nervous the night before a long run.  
• i sleep unbelievably well.  this really isn't the case for me when i run long on a weekend morning.  why? i don't know.  i typically take a short nap after a long morning run and then am out and about the rest of the day/night.  i guess this wakes me up?  who knows.  all i know is that sleeping after a friday night long run is amazeballs.
• the post-run shower is INCREDIBLE.  i mean, yea, showers after all long runs are really really good- but there's something about showering and knowing that there is nothing left for you to do that day besides eat, lay on the couch, and go to bed that makes it extra amazing.  
• for all those health conscious people out there, a long friday night run really only calls for one "i'm going to run or i ran a lot of miles" meal.  think about it: when you run long on saturday morning, what do you do?  eat a hearty meal friday night.  and thennn you eat a hearty meal saturday post-run because you're damn hungry and need the recovery carbs and proteins.  long run on a friday night? just the hearty meal post-run (please make it a point to fuel (and hydrate!) during the day and eat your typical morning pre-run breakfast before heading out or you'll be hungry and underfueled.  bad bad bad. (note: i did not do this friday night and i got hungry. lesson learned)

cons:

• i really worry about time on friday night runs.  i calculate how long it should take me to run the number of miles i need to and i worry.  will it be too dark when i finish?  will i get too hungry?  have i drank enough all day?  did i eat enough?  will i be nauseous when i get home?  will i be eating dinner at some ridiculous hour?  WORRY WORRY WORRY.
• i'm still figuring out the fueling for friday night long runs.  this past friday, i got super hungry by mile 6 and just wanted to go home.  not good.  i'm thinking that in addition to a healthy and filling lunch, i need to "snack" by eating my regular pre-long run breakfast 30-60 minutes before leaving to run.  i'm going to try this next time and i'll let you know how it works for me. 

while i don't see myself becoming a regular friday night runner, it does work for those weekends in which i just can't see how i'll be able to fit the miles in otherwise.  it's nice to know the option is there.

anyone out there run long on friday nights?  or weeknights for that matter?  how do you fuel? any pointers or tips for me?  i'm obviously doing this by trial and error.