TRUE TO YOURSELF
I believe if you make a commitment to achieve time-based goals
in distance running you need to be true to yourself when you
train.
15 MINUTES
The nucleus of a fast session generally lasts no longer than 15
min. It is during this 15min that you need to forget about last
week's session, forget about next week's session and solely
focus on what you are doing. There is no past, there is no
future.
You're well rested after having at least one easy training day
prior and you're about to milk your energy stores dry.
If, for example, you are about to run a session of 8 x 500 metre
efforts with 1 min standing recovery, your aim is to run all
efforts at the same pace, leaving little possibility that a 9th
and definitely not a 10th repetition could be
possible at the same pace. Accurate pacing takes time to master
and you will be repeating the same session a number of times
before you reach consistency with your splits.
Money in the bank
Completion of the session to your fullest requires a great deal
of honesty. Holding back on what you can truly run will cause
you less stress and effort; however your satisfaction at the
completion of the session will not be the same. You will not be
as close to achieving your dream in two or three months as you
possibly could have.
My coaching philosophy is based around a concept focused on
strengthening both mind and body over a consistent period of
time. Interruptions should be avoided to the best of your
ability. Consistency is the key.
" It is also about becoming tougher. "
Running fast in training is not only about raising your
anaerobic threshold. It is also about becoming tougher. It is
also about not giving in. It is also about being true to
yourself.
When you're challenging yourself in a race you need reasons to
keep maintaining the pressure you are putting your body under.
The mind and body seek reassurance from each other. In a race
you want to be in a situation where you can tell yourself you're
a well oiled machine fueled by the purest of fuels. An
occasional flashback to various arduous training sessions is
where you will find this assurance.
Do you want to achieve your goal?
The majority of us generally favour being out on the road or
forest trail for hours at a time. It is something which is
natural to us. Fast running/speed work (whatever you wish to
call it) is essential if you wish to achieve your time-based
goals. The two or three 15 min windows of fast running each week
will give you that extra gear.
You will achieve what you deserve to achieve. Nothing more.
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