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Finding The Right Training Plan For You

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Through my years of running I'm finding that what may work for one runner may not work for another.

Some people require and crave high mileage. That's what works for them and that's how they obtain the best results. Others require less mileage and different types of runs for them to obtain their best results.

People argue as to how do you know what's best. In other words someone who requires less mileage might receive great results, but others may debate  that maybe if they tried higher mileage they would receive better results and vice versa. I think it comes down to doing what's best for you, your lifestyle and your goals.  

I found that running is just like every thing else - opinions are like rear ends - everyone has one. 

And that can make it very difficult for someone with my type of personality. I have the personality that I want to please everyone, and with so many diverse opinions out there, it's hard for me to decide sometimes what is best for me because I'm always trying to please everyone else. I know it's complicated! :) 

High mileage training plans did not work for me. My body didn't like it. Mentally I hated the slow runs which felt I was doing all of the time. I didn't have time to fit it into my family - my lifestyle -between my three-year-old and husband - it just did not work for me. But just because it didn't work for me doesn't mean that it won't work for you.

I think that working with the trainer who listens to you and adjusts your plan is better than a cookie-cutter plan that you can get from a book or the Internet. I don't think one plan is going to work for everyone. I think plans have to be adjusted to your needs and your goals. That being said just because you work with the trainer doesn't mean you're going to receive the results that you always want or expect. 

I found that you have to be strong enough within yourself to really know what you want, put it out there, and be bold enough to stand up and say this just is not working for me, it needs to be changed instead of feeling the need to please. As with anything it takes communication.

I'm not happy that I am injured (again), but it is giving me time to pause and reflect which is what I needed.

I know that high mileage and running more than 5 days a week is not for me. Would it give me better results than running less? Maybe? Maybe not? But what I do know is that if running high mileage was making me so miserable, it wasn't worth it to me.

Once I am healed, I believe that I will have a plan in place for my next evolution of running in my life.

My goal: To be a healthier, happier, faster runner by Spring.

Stay tuned.

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  1. "I think that working with the trainer who listens to you and adjusts your plan is better than a cookie-cutter plan that you can get from a book or the Internet."

    I think cookie-cutter plans have their place. But specialization is the key to growth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree! This time around I'm planning on taking a 'cookie-cutter' plan and try to make it my own if that makes sense. I hope to learn to listen to my body while still improving.

      Delete
  2. I agree with this. I plan on trying to find or make a routine that works out for me so I can be ready for my next race.

    KissThisRunner.blogspot.com

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