How To Up Your Running Game
I love this time of the year.
As a coach it is one of my busiest times as I work with athletes to re-define the race season ahead.
Typically our initial planning for the year took place back in December.
After a few months of foundation work, those athletes have fortified their bodies and minds enough to start in on their focused training. April is the time when we really start to dial in the rest of the year. April is also when the “Holy Grail” of running (The Boston Marathon) takes place. Athletes running Boston have had to endure some wicked conditions to put in the volume needed to race an early spring marathon. Talk about dedication! So, a tip of the hat for those athletes who will be racing in Boston this year. Huge congrats for earning your spot at such a prestigious event! (For anybody running Boston on Monday, here’s a link to a mile by mile race guide I put together. Also, be sure to reference our post race recovery guide for tips on how to get back to training soon! Congrats and enjoy the race!)
April is also an important time for athletes to set goals and focus on the season ahead. I’m sure it has to do with the ending of winter and the hype around the Boston Marathon. Its normal to get excited. Right around now I tend to start getting inquiries from folks wanting to qualify for Boston in the future. I also hear from folks trying to recommit to this year’s resolution to become a serious runner. Maybe you’re thinking the same thing.
So, you want to become a serious runner? … let's talk about it.
No matter if you have your sights set on qualifying for the Boston Marathon or you want to finish your first endurance race. First, you need to decide if you are willing to put in the training it will take for you to reach those goals. Be honest with yourself, because the decision to undergo serious training should not be taken lightly. I say this because if you truly want to excel for any given training cycle you need to be fully committed to being a runner and whatever goal you have set for that season. If you dedicate yourself to a well crafted training program your results will show the hard work you have put in.
Consistency is the key to our unforgiving sport. As soon as you start missing training it will be difficult to regain momentum. I’m not advocating for you to become obsessed with running, but what I am stressing is that to prevent frustrations, injuries, and an overall bad experience one needs to be serious about training. Once you become consistent, you will see how all other things in your life will fall into place. Of course you can go party, eat (some) junk food, have a few beers, etc. However, as part of the training progresses those things will automatically moderated themselves. It's amazing to see how with consistency, over a relatively short period of time we can see improvements.
So, here are a few things you could expect:
First of all be kind to yourself and give your body time to adapt to the training. This is even more important for those who have been away from physical activity for some time. Don’t rush it, enjoy the journey and set realistic goals with plenty of time to reach those goals. It’s pretty simple - if you rush the process you will become injured and miserable. And we definitely don’t want that to happen.
Second find yourself a support group. (Also known as a running group. ha!) They will keep you accountable and you will also find folks who will push you to becoming a stronger athlete. These are the people you want to surround yourself with.
Third, learn about the sport. Understand why you are doing the training you are doing and what the purpose of each workout is. When it comes to training plans, the plan you used during high school will no longer work for you 20 years later. You owe it to yourself to find something more appropriate for your age, current fitness level and all those other life obligations you now have.
Get ready to build lifelong friendships, travel to great race destinations and most importantly rediscover yourself. See you on the road!