Planning for Reality is Planning for Success
When we follow a training plan and complete the workouts as scheduled, we tend to feel like things are going well. If we miss runs or workouts and can’t hit our goal splits, we generally feel that training is going badly. We are frustrated and/or discouraged. Successful training is defined by how we perceive the work we’re doing.
The Problem is the Plan
If we’re feeling frustrated or discouraged in training, it’s important to recognize that often the main problem is the training plan. If the training plan isn’t appropriate or realistic, we will obviously not be able to complete it. But this shouldn’t make us feel like we’re failing… it should make us re-evaluate the plan.
Training Through Busy Seasons
Recently I have had several clients let me know how crazy their schedules have been. In no scenario do I ask these clients to stay focused on their running and prioritize their workouts. That is something I might say to a professional runner whose job is to train and compete. But my clients are not pros. Their actual jobs and families take priority.
In every scenario, I immediately scale back their training load to a level that is manageable for their current situation. My goal is to deliver a training plan that helps someone continue to move forward and make progress in any situation.
A Real Life Example
Rachel is a former client who recently ran a big marathon PR of 3:10. In the week leading up to her race, she had a very busy week with her job, working long hours without any time for running. We knew this was coming and knew what to expect. The training plan I set for the week was simply to manage stress as well as possible, prioritize sleep, and eat regular meals and snacks. The training plan had NO RUNNING in it.
If I had planned a more typical taper week for Rachel including with a light workout and some easy runs, she may have felt frustrated or discouraged when work prevented her from getting these done. Frustration and discouragement are not feelings we welcome leading up to a big race - these are really bad for confidence. A typical taper week would have been an unrealistic plan.
Ultimately, Rachel was able to follow her training plan and get a few miles of running in that week. She exceeded expectations for the training week and went on to crush her goal race.
Expectations Matter
If we want to be successful, we need to have appropriate expectations. Here’s an example: say you want to start strength training. You decide to hit the gym 3 times every week, but in the first week you only make it twice. It’s likely you will feel discouraged for missing your goal in the very first week. If you plan on one gym session per week and end up going twice, that is a big success. In both scenarios you went to the gym twice in a week, but only in the second scenario do you build positive momentum and accomplish your goal.
Nicole Sifuentes is a full-time Running Coach for adults of all ages and abilities. She is a former professional runner and 2-time Olympian, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Read more about her services, and schedule your free coaching consultation.
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