11. Out of commission? Never again!

At some point, almost all runners have been exhausted after a long run. This is primarily due to too much continuous running—or simply not taking walk breaks often enough from the beginning. When the ratios are changed enough, most who run (even 26 miles) can carry on with normal family and friend activities after the run.

Heat can also be a cause of exhaustion. On hot days, strenuous workouts should be done before the sun rises above the horizon. Be sure to read and follow the instructions in the heat section of this chapter.

Rule #1:

YOU CANNOT GO TOO SLOWLY OR TAKE WALK BREAKS TOO FREQUENTLY ON LONG RUNS.

Rule #2:

When in doubt, walk slowly for several minutes and let the body restore itself.

Rule #3:

Just walk the distance of the long run if you have serious challenges.