Have I mentioned that I’m pretty regimented?  Well maybe not in all aspects of my life but most definitely in my business life and athletic pursuits.   When I work with my business clients I’m on task and have  my to do lists firmly in place, I know what to do and how to get the job done.  When training for an event I have my training calendar set and deviate only if I absolutely have to.  I find comfort in knowing that I’m prepared.

If you are training or thinking about training for an event being structured is mandatory, especially if you are in training for the first time.  Running a few miles three times a week does not require much planning whereas training for a marathon needs to be carefully thought out and planned.

Whether you find a running group or follow a training plan provided by a race sponsor or rally some girls in the neighborhood you need to take that training plan and put pen to paper to determine what your schedule will allow.   There are many trained and experienced coaches out there that will talk to you about training strategies and toss out phrases like lactic threshold and VO2 max.

If you are looking for such detailed tips, please find one of those aforementioned coaches.  If you want some real-world, tried and tested tips, I’m your gal!

Make Every Workout Count

If it’s a recovery run, let it be just that, don’t try and cram in some extra speedwork.  If it’s a cross training day hit the pool or the bike and give your body a break.

Run Long When Your Schedule Allows

Many of my Mom friends are not able to train long on the weekends due to kids’ sports schedules.  If you can find a Thursday or Friday to go long, embrace it and shuffle your training schedule to allow for that.

When In Doubt, Run Early

Most of us have great intentions.  We plan our workout, bring our stuff to work only to find out that at the end of the day we have to dash and can’t get a quality workout in.  Schedule your runs early so life doesn’t intervene.

Share Your Goals

To coin an oft-used phrase, it takes a village to train for an endurance race.  You need supporters to keep your spirits up, you need your spouse or partner to pick up some household slack as you train and you need your training pals to get you through the tedium.  Sharing your goals with co-workers, friends and family will go far in helping to keep you on track.  And trust me, everyone is in awe of what you are doing, even if they don’t say it aloud!

Get a Sitter

How fun to take your kids in a running stroller for that 6, 8 or 10 mile run right?!  Wrong.  Unless the kids sleep the entire time you’ll spend a lot of your run picking up sippy cups, books and dropped lovies.  Leave the little angels at home with Dad, a sitter or a trusted pal.  You’ll thank me.

Now go run!

Keli 🙂