Breaking the Bad

Welcome to the 2021 heat wave!  One of the biproducts of summer heat and the beginning of race training is the feeling of a notable fade backwards.  Reversing all the gains you thought you had.  Slower, heavier, it is hotter and you are fading behind the speedy crowd makes you feel like you are BREAKING and that your body is BAD. BS: Break those feelings.  Here’s how:

Summer is here and training is hard, but your training is designed to finesse the fatigue.  You push yourself to make a passageway into higher mileage, more intense speedwork, etc..  You are intentionally creating motivation to quit. Are you feeling it?  Here are three tactics to fight it:

1.     Buttercup

Do not let demotivation sap your strength.  Dig deep and persevere.  You sure you are pushing?  Remember our club member Allison – suck it up buttercup!  You may need to reassess next run, but today we roll.

2.     WBRRC Pass

Another tactic is the opposite.  It’s to honestly assess this week’s feelings vs. this week’s training.  If you are dragging and see the physical effects of striving, take your pass week.  Being part of this club allows you three-four passes to skip training per year.  Use them up.  They are earned by following the plan, pushing hard and occasionally using these passes during the year.

3.     Pause the plan

The final tactic is drastic.  You may want to reassess the pace and scope of your training.  Are you attempting the most training ever?  Highest peak mileage or a new pace can be the tipping points for the slow growth of your fitness.  Cardio, muscles, and your body may be persistent in resisting this change.  You will win eventually; the pace may need to slow.

Everyone I have met in this club has a motivation, dedication and power that will keep them growing against the cruel hand of aging.  This year, you will make gains you had not expected and enjoy races just a little bit more than last year.   You got this!

Craig