CQT Archives - DizRuns.com

QT: Remember, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

2 Comments/in CQT, Diz Runs With, Quick Tip/by Denny

Where do you want to be with your running in five years?

What are you willing to change to help you get there?

Consistency is Key

I talk about the importance of being consistent with your training a lot. And I 100% believe that if you train consistently over a long enough period of time, you will see some rather significant changes to your running.

There is a flip side to the consistency coin that, perhaps, I haven’t talked about enough in the past.

Sorry about that.

When it comes to consistency, regular training is important.

But a certain amount of variety within your consistency is necessary if you want to keep moving forward toward your larger goals.

Being Consistent Doesn’t Mean Doing the Same Thing All of the Time

To improve as a runner, you need to run regularly.

Hopefully that makes sense.

And when I say run regularly, I don’t mean a certain number of times per week. I mean running regularly week after week, month after month, and year after year.

But that doesn’t mean you should be doing the same workouts week after week, month after month, or year after year.

That’s where the variety comes into play.

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There

Which brings me back to my original questions: where do you want to be as a runner in five years and what changes are you willing to make in order to be there?

Because here’s the thing, if you’re not willing to change anything in your training then five years from now you’ll be right where you are today and your goals will still be five years away.

Sorry, but it’s the truth.

What has gotten you to this point in your running career isn’t going to keep you moving forward in the pursuit of your goals.

It’s just not.

So here are four suggestions of things that you can do to spice up your training a bit and keep you moving forward.

Increase Volume or Intensity (or Both)

Our bodies are great at adapting to the demands that we place upon them.

If you want to continue to move towards you goals, you must continue to increase the demands you put on your body.

Add more miles, add some speed work, run some hills, and/or increase your pace targets during hard workouts to add a little extra stress to your workout and force you body to adapt accordingly.

Add Strength Training and the Little Things

One of the biggest disruptors to training consistently is suffering a running injury and winding up on the sidelines for weeks (or months) at a time.

Many runners believe that running injuries are simply inevitable, probably because so many runners do wind up injured each year.

Just because you’re a runner doesn’t mean you’re pre-destined to a serious of shin splints/plantar fasciitis/stress fracture/IT band injuries.

And while I wouldn’t make the claim that all of those injuries are 100% preventable, I would make the claim that running injuries can be prevented in most most cases.

How?

With regular strength training and consistently doing the little things to stay healthy that I talk about so often.

A Commitment to Cross Training

You know all of those things I just mentioned about strength training and the little things?

Most of them apply here as well.

Not only does cross training help with injury prevention, however, but it also helps build your cardiovascular fitness which can have rather obvious positive impacts on your running as well.

Work With a Coach

Can I be 100% honest for a minute?

Nothing I do as a coach is some deeply guarded trade secret.

And the same holds true for just about every running coach in the world.

Sure, we all have our little nuances but on the whole we aren’t going to tell you do anything dramatically different from what you’ll freely find available on my website or any of several hundred others around the inter webs.

So why would you consider spending your hard earned dollars on a coach?

Speaking for myself only, because I’m worth it. Why?

Having a coach means you no longer have to worry about what to do. You just have to do it.

And freeing up your bandwidth is one little change that can make a huge difference when all is said and done.

The Choice is Yours

Happy with where you are as a runner?

If so, that’s awesome! Keep on doing what you’re doing and keep enjoying the many benefits of running that you’re already experiencing.

But if you want more for yourself as a runner, you need to continue to push the boundaries (intellighetnely).

Because remember, what got you here won’t get you there, wherever there is for you…

To reach your long term #running goals, remember that what got you here won't get you there. #runchat Click To Tweet

What are Your Long Term Running Goals & What Will You Change in Order to Achieve Them?

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QT: Finding Balance Between Running and Everything Else

0 Comments/in Beginner Page QT, CQT, Diz Runs With, NQT, Quick Tip/by Denny

One of the biggest issues that I have in my running is finding the time to balance my running with everything else going on in my life.

And from talking with many other runners, I know that I’m not alone.

So on today’s quick tip, I want to talk about ways to maintain a semblance of balance between “running, life, and everything in between.”

Finding Balance Isn’t Easy

The Obstacles to Balance

Everyone has their own obstacles to finding balance between running and the rest of their lives, but family and work or two of the most common.

And for most of us, those are non-negotiable. We can’t fire our families and we can’t just up and quit our jobs.

So we have to figure out how to make all of the things we want to do and all of the things we need to do fit into the same 24 hours.

Admittedly, that’s not easy. But it is doable.

How?

Well that’s the million dollar question…

Ideas for Finding and Maintaining Balance in Your Life

Schedule Your Priorities:

Too many of us, myself included, prioritize our schedules.

Whether you’re using a written planner, google calendar, or some other system to keep track of everything you have to do, it’s easy to look at that list and think how am I ever going to squeeze in a run let alone train for a race.

In that case, you’re prioritizing the things on your schedule instead of scheduling your priorities.

You need to put the most important things on your calendar first, and let the busyness of life fill in the spaces.

You know when you have to work, so that goes on your calendar. And you know when you have to be at events for your kids, so put those on your calendar.

Want to find more time to run? Schedule it. End of.

If running/training is going to be a priority for you, you have to schedule it first. And then, you have to treat those runs (which you’ve scheduled because you view them as priorities) as such. If something comes up that isn’t a Grade 1 emergency, and honestly there are very few Grade 1 emergencies these days, you need to honor yourself enough to say that you have a prescheduled commitment at that time.

Invent Time:

This is one of my favorite tricks for balancing running and life: simply invent more time.

On the surface this sounds ridiculous, I know. But please, hear me out.

How much time do you spend during the average week idly waiting for the next thing on you schedule?

What am I talking about? When you drop your kids off at soccer practice or dance lessons or whatever it is they are doing, what do you do for that 1-2 hours in between?

Most people I know just kind of “hang out” during that time. Maybe you watch. Maybe you go to starbucks for an overpriced (and not particularly good) cup of coffee and browse FB or scroll through Instagram or text back and forth with a friend.

There’s noting wrong with doing any of those things. But if you are struggling to find time to run regularly, why not go knock off a few miles in that window?

If you do so, in a sense, you are inventing more time in your way. And would a little more time help you achieve a sense of balance?

I bet it would.

Get Up Earlier:

Probably the most common suggestion for those that struggle to balance regular running with life is to simply get up earlier.

If you’re not much of a morning person, this isn’t the kind of advice you are probably looking for.

That said, it works.

If you can drag yourself out of bed an hour earlier every day, not only will you get your run in but you might start to find that it sets the rest of your day up for success.

I’ve only recently become a morning person (sleeping until 5 am is legitimately sleeping in for me now) and the difference I feel for the rest of the day when I run first thing in the morning vs when I don’t is crazy.

When I run first thing, I feel better. I’m not worried about finding time to run later.

Don’t knock it until you try it, believe me.

Listen to the Byrds:

Sometimes, as much as you may not want to, you may have to shift your focus to achieve balance.

One of my least favorite songs of all time is Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds. But damn if that song isn’t spot on for finding balance in your life.

Point blank, you can’t do all of it all of the time.

Depending on the other non-negotiables of life, you may have to back off on your running some to stay balanced.

And that’s ok.

Nothing says that we have to be “all in” on running all of the time or else. Run for fun as you’re able for weeks/months/years, and when life allows you to focus more on your running you can do so.

That doesn’t make you less of a runner. That makes you a well rounded human.

And that is a good thing.

There is No Formula to Achieve Balance

If you’re looking to find balance in your life between running and everything else, nothing beats a little trial and error as you attempt to figure out what balance looks like for you.

And if all else fails…

This post/quick tip was inspired by a new member of our Facebook group that is new to running and trying to find that balance that we all struggle to hold on to.

She asked, and dozens of folks answered.

If you’re stuck, just ask. I can pretty much guarantee that you’re not the first nor the only runner in the world to be dealing with the same or very similar issue.

Start asking around, and I guarantee you’ll find someone with some advice that will help you. But ultimately it’s up to you to figure out what works for you.

That may take some trial and error, and that’s ok.

Finding balance is worth the effort, believe me.

Finding balance between #running and life is difficult, but it's doable! #runchat #runnerds Click To Tweet

How Do You Maintain Balance in Your Life Between Running and Everything Else?

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