Running Essentials Thursday: You Need a Plan {Friday Edition}
Welcome to Running Essential Thursdays (okay, so I’m a day late this week. YES, it’s Friday)! If you’re new to this series, here’s what we covered so far:
- Roll it Out
- 10 Minute Post-Run Core Workout
- Do I Have to Run 5 Days a Week to be a “Runner”?
- The Warm-Up
- My Two Cents on Running in the Heat
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Winging it will most likely get you no where. You have goals, right? Okay, so if you don’t have goals for running I bet you can look deep inside and find a reason that you run. Reasons can sometimes equal goals. Maybe your goal is to relieve stress, not to run a marathon or to set an amazingly speedy pr in your next 5k. Maybe you don’t even want to run a 5k. That’s okay.
Let’s say (for argument’s sake) that the only reason you run is to relieve stress. You still need to make a plan. When will you run? How far? On what days of the week according to both your social and work calendar will you run? Who will you run with? And what will you wear? (okay, so you probably don’t HAVE to plan this out, but it does help to have a clean sports bra).
That’s great and all, but how do you make a plan??
- You can use smart coach on Runner’s World.
- You can ask a friend who has years of running experience.
- You can ask google.
- You can hire a coach.
To make my training plan for the New York City Marathon I used a combination of Runner’s World Smart Coach and the plan in Run Less, Run Faster.
How do you go about making your training plans?
Hi, are you living inside of my head? I just had this conversation yesterday with a DailyMile friend who thinks the precise reason I am struggling with running right now is because I have no plan! So he gave me a plan and I’ve been working today on modifying it to fit my needs (i.e. wanting to do dishes on Tuesdays and not being willing to give up any of my exhale classes). And I think I have a good solid plan!
But since we are talking plans and I think you “get” my need for activities other than running, I have a question for you. How important is it that your recovery the day after a long run be a run? I would think yoga or Core Fusion Cardio would be a suitable recovery activity in place of a run, but I wanted to ask someone with a little more knowledge than, say, me. Maybe this is a good topic for another Thursday!
Ha ha! I rarely ever use running as a recovery after a long run day. I think yoga would be great. If you’re not too sore after them then Core Fusion Cardio would be a good option also.
This is so true. I always get more from my running and improve more quickly when I’m following some sort of training plan, whether it’s one I found online or created myself. I just signed up for my next half marathon and was so excited to plot out my next 8 weeks of runs and workouts. Somehow having those miles scheduled in my day planner (like a work meeting or an appointment) turns them into a non-negotiable. Works like a charm.