Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Training Traps - Finale

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.

Rethink the training and ego battles, particularly those with numbers. Avoid the traps. And, the next time you race – knowing that you’ve done all that you can in training – go hard, and go well.