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"You can't rush running."
"You can't rush results."
"You can't rush training."
These last few weeks, I've repeated those mantras far too many times to runners asking for advice.
I don't know what it is, but runners have approached me in various states of panic about races they are not prepared for.
And my question is always the same: "What is the rush?" And that question always makes people pause.
In running preparation is everything. And with preparation you have to be honest with your goals and want you want to do. And preparation has plenty of flexibility in it. But you have to be honest with yourself. And you can't cram for a running event. Just like you can't cram for life. You can't cheat it. There has to be a clear plan.
When you sign up for every event, there should be a few questions you ask yourself:
1) What is my overall goal for the year: Do you want a PR in a certain race or event? Do you just want to run and have a healthy year of running? Make your goal a major event, and make that a priority. Put it on the calendar. Make sure you see the calendar. And don't take advantage of time you think you have, because, you don't have it. It's better to start early than start late. Make sure you have plenty of training time. Make that race the goal of the year. Plan the season on that major goal. Put it in your calendar. And remember, be honest. And be specific. Tell runners and coaches exactly what you want. Put it on the table.
2) Get a training plan: Ask a coach, read a book, join a running group, or go to www.halhigdon.com and print a training plan. Put on on your refrigerator. Add it to the calendar on your phone. You need to see it, read it and understand where you are, and what you need to do. Keep your eye on the big picture. Every runner should have a training plan, at every level. That framework is very, very important for success. The runner who succeed, have a plan.
3) Stick to the Plan: Don't plan events that will interfere with the goal: Stop trying to squeeze in races last minute. Stick to the plan. If you want to make a half marathon a goal for the year say September, You can test your fitness in shorter events, but they should be scheduled now, not on the go and last minute. Every event you enter should be a help to your overall goal, not take away from it. Add the event to the schedule and be honest with yourself, if you can do it or not.
4) Be honest: Get injured, don't be afraid to change the plan. If your hurt and it's not improving, then don't run it, but reevaluate and see what you an do. There is no "saving the season". Just run when you are healthy. No race is worth your overall health and injury. So don't be afraid to call it. But, learn what you can do to avoid those circumstances in the future. Work on preventing the injuries. Don't just avoid them, get them taken care of. It can be done.
5) What is the rush: You've run one half marathon last year, why have you signed up for three this year? Ask yourself: What is the rush? What are you supposed to learn from the experience? What is the result? What is the plan? Why have you decided to overwhelm yourself? Running in races is not about freaking yourself out, Running about testing yourself and seeing what you can do, not about a workload you have to handle. Must handle. Running is not a job.
It's still not too late to make these changes for this year. But be clear and honest your goals and your abilities.
