Let's Try That Again

Wow. That’s about all I can say. Sometimes the truth hurts, and this is definitely one of those times. I just went back and looked at a list I made earlier this year of some things I wanted to make sure I did with my training going forward, and the results have been a complete, utter fail! I didn’t do a single one of them or really even come close. Ouch. Sometimes I have to sit back and consider the fact that I’m lucky to have as much success as I do. In other words, I almost get in shape and race fairly well in spite of myself.

All that said, I can take a couple positives from it. First of all, every single thing on the list is still achievable and still applicable. All I have to do is execute, stick to it, and be patient while the results come. Second, if I can run/race decently when I’m not doing the things I know I need to do, I’m sure I can do much better when I actually stay focused and on track. Fast times and PR’s are still attainable; I just have to be smart, something that’s definitely been easier said than done for me over the years. I guess that’s why I’ve always said I make a much better coach for others than for myself. I tend to be my own worst enemy when it comes to rushing things, and I don’t even follow my own advice/plans much less others’ (sorry Howard).

So here’s the basics of the list I made:

1) A renewed emphasis on quality. Plain and simple, I have to get some speed back. As Howard always says, in order to race fast, you have to train fast.
2) More recovery. Throughout my career I’ve always been a higher mileage guy because that’s what I have to do to make up for my lack of talent. That’s not going to totally change, but I definitely have to pay more attention to getting the recovery I need.
3) Stop trying to go straight to step 3 without ever mastering steps 1 and 2. Basically I always seem jump right back into training like I’m on top of my game and have been for a while rather than taking my time with a build. I go at it like I’m trying to set PR’s, which I am, without going through the intermediary steps first. This is where the whole patience thing comes into play.
4) Do the little things, but don’t overdo them. This is another item I seem to repeat over and over. I either do drills and core work to the extreme or don’t do them at all. I definitely need to do this type of work, but I have to find a balance where I do enough to get the benefits without overdoing it such that it becomes counter-productive and/or causes me to burn out and give up on it.

Ok, that’s it. I’ve got some specific things that relate to those four that I'll probably get into in a later post, but basically everything comes back to those simple items. Now let’s just see if I can do them this time.