We all got into running for one reason or
another – some of you recently, a few of us many years ago. You enjoy the
active and running lifestyle for your own reasons: health, fitness, wellbeing,
state-of-mind, participation, performance, perfection or podium and, in some
sense, pride.
Some things have changed; some things
haven’t. Your training comes to reflect the reasons why you run. The basics haven’t changed: you
still need to run to get running’s benefits: swim, cycle and gym are good, but
not as good.
You want training to be what you want it to
be, and effective. Yet, amongst the technology, self-professed gurus, and Coach-google,
basic training errors are still made: many out of running’s present culture,
some out of habit and ego. Are you trapped by these?
Remember, what works for the pros and what
are promoted as “the best”, “the most effective”, “the ideal”, “the latest” or
“short-cuts ” are rarely what they are made out to be. They simply don’t work for
most. Perhaps these are your trap?
Through 2010-14 I held discussions,
meetings, race and program reviews, and constructed strategic performance plans
with over 700 runners and coaches (and 350+ triathletes). I've shared the Top Ten Run-training Traps with you, and a cure or ‘get-out’ with a long-term prevention strategy for each.
No-one sets out to fall into a traps, or
make training errors. If you’re in one, get out.
And stay out.
Plan your training. Ensure it’s
progressive, cyclic, varied and, importantly, that it relates to you – your
experiences, your capacities, resources and aspirations. Keep a log and journal
of what you do. Review, reflect and re-work according to it and your plan.
Heed the lessons and advice of others, yet
don’t blindly follow it or a squad. Learn to listen to your body, for it will
tempt and test you as you train and trick it.
