Hi to all SimpleSole folks out there. This is my first post and Wonz might stick this into its own thread rather than a reply to the Training page. But here we go…
Now that in the Midwest we are into the post-cross country time of year, I want to add my perspective on training and growing as a competitive runner, with a slight lean to the younger runners out there. The cold weather for all runners, and the long wait to spring track races for high school and age group runners, sets the stage for an off season of training. This is the perfect time of year for focus on increasing and maintaining consistent sessions of distant training. Base training, mileage, or however you like to talk about it is the key to success as a competitive runner. Even in the cold and snow, a runner can shut down the interval training or speed sessions of the spring and fall training and pour their energy into cardiovascular development. For runners the best way to achieve this growth is two ways. One is to add time or distance to daily training sessions and the other to chart and increase total training time or distance totals per week. Here is the best part: both can be achieved on a small scale at the same time and during the dark and cold of the mid=western winter. You do need a track clear of snow and ice to run fast speed work without injury, but focusing on running longer daily runs and increasing weekly totals works great this time of year. Even better, it is without a doubt the most essential and powerful way to increase your running performance.
Ever meet that runner looking for the perfect workout? The answer is obvious, there is no perfect workout. That is because the best way to improve our race times is to improve your general running fitness and power from the ground up. So, time for a little look in the mirror: Are you as fast as you want to be? Want to run a Mile PR this spring or beat some old guy with 2 and 1/2 kids (our newest daughter is due in April!) in the Half in May? Well then I might just see you on the road and good luck to all out there getting those winter miles.
Next time: How to best increase my overall mileage without injury and overtraining.
-Salem Says RUN