Three Steps to Keep Training Uncomplicated

So many ultrarunners ask this one question… 

”Am I doing enough?’ 

It’s a mental trap because your mind responds as if you asked, “What am I missing?”

It skips straight to the menu of things it thinks you might need to fix, change, or add.

“Is this the mileage that worked last time?”

“What should I be eating?”

“Could I fit in strength training, yoga, weights, boot camp class, speed work, hill repeats, HIIT, swimming, cycling, stairs, rowing…?” 

Your mind gets busy figuring out ways to fit new activities and more detail into your schedule, on top of everything else.

Next thing you know, you’re schedule’s packed, you’re stressed about getting it all done, you’re starting to burn out and you’ve totally lost sight of the actual running you started with.

Why do we over complicate training?

Funny enough, simply to feel better. 

When you’re worried you aren’t doing enough, adding something, anything, to your training feels better because “more” moves you up the assumed scale toward “enough.”

I see this cycle so often that I decided to break down the process I use to keep my training focused, and it’s three simple steps:

1. Create a basic training plan you believe in - just the running part. 

I’m using “create” on purpose, because you’re going to decide how you create it.

You can research and write your own. You can find a free one you like online - there are many. You can hire a coach to give you one. 

However you go about it, it’s your responsibility, so create one you like and commit to it.

2. When you’re tempted to embellish the plan (and you will be) ask yourself why. 

The key here is to look honestly at your reason and whether you like it or not.

Questionable reasons have no relevant rationale - you’re adding a boot camp class to your weekly schedule because someone else is doing it, or a website or video said it was a must for trail runners. You’re hoping it somehow gives you a better race. 

Valid reasons to add something to your plan solve or prevent a problem:

• Better prepare you in a specific way for your upcoming race, like adding hill repeats for a hilly race.

• Improve your overall health and make you less injury-prone in the long run, like adding strength training for trail running stability.

3. Add with constraint. 

Add only one new thing at a time, and not to excess. Like adding yoga class once a week to improve your flexibility.

Adding one thing at a time allows you to see the difference it makes to your fitness and your time. If you change three things at once, you can’t tell which one has which effect.

When your body and schedule have stabilized in the new routine - in a few weeks - and you want to add something else, repeat steps 2 and 3.

If things change and your current training becomes too much, start over with step 1.

You don’t have to put up with over complicated training. 

These three simple steps give you a focused, deliberate, and sustainable way to add detail or simplify your training when you want to.

Hey, if you are ready to up your distance, your results, and even your life, email me here or DM me. Let’s talk through the process we’d take to get you there. Change is a lot easier with a coach who’s been there and has got your back.