The 17 mile long run on my schedule this weekend is looming over my head. Dread.

When I received an email from Active.com today with an article on "3 Tips to Keep Your Marathon Training Runs Fresh", I clicked eagerly and thought, Oh, just in time. Please help me keep my mind busy.

What I expected was some advice on how to entertain myself, like funny things to think about, talk about with fellow runner, or look at on the trail. For example, a mind game to play, top ten places I want to travel, or heck... birdwatching.

What I got instead was a complicated list of ways to run differently over the time period. Warm up, then run for a mile at this pace, then for this many minutes at another pace, back to a slow pace for however many miles, fast for another set of miles....... Are you kidding!? Not happening.

I am interested to see if I can come up with a better set of tips this weekend. I have 17 miles to think of some after all. So, I'll report back next week - that is, if I make it with out passing out and forgetting all of my thoughts! ;)