Easing into a new training plan

Are you thinking about beginning a new training plan to crush your next race? Did you think about what you should do to ease into that new training plan or are you just planning to 'jump' right into it?

Jumping into training plans is one of the number one causes for injuries! So many runners take a look at new race training plan and think 'that seems doable' and just forget about those weeks leading up to it. It's never a good idea to jump into a 20 mile week 1 training plan, if you've only built up to 10 mile weeks. 

I always like to add in 2-to-3 weeks of build-up, before beginning a new training plan. The build-up weeks don't need to be anything too crazy and it doesn't even have to include any speed workouts or goal-paced runs because you are just working on increasing mileage (it's never a good idea to introduce more than one or two 'new' things each week of training cycle). I.E. --> if you introduce 3 new miles that week and a goal-paced workout, then there's no room for also adding in a speed workout. It's all about BALANCE. 

I love to make my own calendars or keep track of my training runs on an excel doc! It helps me notice if I'm increasing my mileage too much each week or if I miss a few days from nagging injuries or being sick, I know that I will need to ease into training that next week (not just right back in full-bore). If you're able to reflect on your training each week, it will also help your MENTAL prep! I love to look back on my past training runs and remember those runs that I totally ROCKED- helps build up my confidence on my race day plan (or re-assess if things didn't go so well during training). 

PS HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Are you celebrating tonight, eating candy, or turning your lights off and pretending like no one is home? ->I will be eating some candy, watching my favorite Halloween movie Hocus Pocus, and not dressing up #adulting 

What techniques do you use to ease back into a training plan?

Do you use a calendar or journal for writing down some notes on each run/ training day?

Favorite Running Memes

Since we're busy driving the day away, I figured I would share with you a few of my favorite running memes! 

The memes below seriously depict how I feel about running/training sometimes and that's why they're so great!

Running really is my favorite and that's kinda surprising because I remember when I used to think of it as a CHORE! Now I will actually find myself waking up at 5am to go run 10 miles and I can also sometimes become like a small child in a candy store when a race is coming up (especially any Disney or Rock 'n Roll races). 

Well, maybe not Nikes exactly, but definitely running shoes! Want to know the perfect gift to get a runner? A giftcard to their favorite running brand (ahem... Brooks)- you seriously can never go wrong with this one! Getting a new pair of running sneakers is better than Christmas Day to me. 

Buzz Lighter ladies and gentlemen. He knows exactly how many of us feel about the pure joy that running 13.1 miles does for us! He was always one of my favorite Toy Story characters and now I know why...

Another Disney-related one, but it is SO true! A good pair of sneakers can bring about tears, laughter, growth, excitement, and fancy finisher medals! I remember when I ran my first half-marathon and was seriously wearing running sneakers that were TWO TIMES bigger than my shoe size! They still are such a magical pair to me. Running shoes > glass slippers

You HAD to know this one was coming! 

Favorite running meme?

How's your Dream Beyond Your Comfort Zone Project going?

Here are my three things that I am thankful for today:

1. healthy body

2. Stella

3. laughter