In 2016, I managed to set a personal record in just about every major race distance. Looking back on the year, I realize I have learned so many lessons while setting a PR in the 5k, 10k, 10 miler, half marathon and full marathon. I should note that I don’t usually race for PRs. I usually have a couple of big goal races during the year and then just race for fun.
Recognize your Fitness
I set personal records in the 5k, 10k and ten miler when I was not attempting to. For each of those races, I was in between training cycles and just running a race for fun. I finally realized that the fitness I had built up during my training was still there. I think I actually underestimated my fitness a couple of times. Not to say that I would’ve tried to go for PRs – but what I thought I’d run in each of those unexpected PRs was way slower than what I actually ran.
Take a Break
This goes along with my first point. I’m a huge believer in taking a break between training cycles (I wrote about this for Women’s Running recently). I know that there is no way I could work as hard as I do when I’m in training if I didn’t take a break afterwards.
Hard means Hard
I shared some about the Hanson training method. It wasn’t easy and I loved it. One of the things that was key in my success this year while using the Hanson Method was understanding and learning that when I’m supposed to be running hard, it was going to be…hard. That sounds simple but it was one of many profound lessons I had to learn. I used to judge my workouts by how I felt while doing them. If I felt “good,” then that meant the workout was a success. That was not the case this year. Once I got into the meat of my training, I rarely felt good during workouts. Heck, sometimes I didn’t feel good during easy runs. The plan is based on cumulative fatigue and so if every run felt great, I probably wouldn’t have been following the plan closely enough. I learned to embrace the fact that these hard runs were going to be hard and measure my success by completing the workout at the desired splits, not by how I felt. It was critical in my mental state during training.
Easy means Easy (Pace Wise)
On the flip side, I had always thought about easy runs as being runs that felt seamless. That was just not the case with my training this year. Once I got into the 40 and 50 mile weeks, my “easy” runs were anything but. My legs were just tired and that was true during these easy runs. I learned that easy really just means that the pace is an easy pace, not that the run feels easy. Were there days that running felt effortless? Sure – but only a few, to be honest. And that was okay – it didn’t mean that I wasn’t fit or that I wasn’t working hard. In fact, the exact opposite!
I am working on a post with what 2017 will look like for me, so be sure to check that out soon. In the interim, tell me – what lessons about running did you learn this year? Also be on the lookout for the 2016 Year of Running Link Up to go live on Sunday!
I would agree that easy being easy is such a huge and important lesson. Your races do really get much faster that way!
Yes – it can be tough but it was CRITICAL for me!
Very interesting, and this makes total sense. I think I’m always afraid of running a race if I haven’t trained for it specifically, but now I can see how the fitness built over the last training cycle can carry over into other races. Thanks for sharing this–I think I’m going to start running more races next year to see if something similar happens to me.
I bet it would totally happen. This morning I ran a half for fun and while I didn’t PR, I ran just shy of my PR. I know it’s carry over fitness because I haven’t been running much!
I love what you’re saying about “Hard means hard” – I often judge a workout by how I feel, but you’re right it’s really about did you hit your prescribed paces and embracing that some workouts are going to be tough ones.
MichellE @ running With Attitude recently posted…Last coffee date of 2016
Exactly. If I judged by feel, my workouts would all be disasters, haha!
Hard means hard and easy means easy is something I work on with my girls. I also hope to get healthy enough to get back to this next year. Right now I am slow means even SLOWER.. hehehehe
I can’t wait to see your epic comeback 😉
I completely agree with you on the “easy means easy” thing. I often find that I improve lots when I’m running lots of easy “junk” miles. No idea why, maybe it’s just due to not getting injured!
I think that all miles are solid – not “junk”. But easy paced miles are critical for being able to build mileage safely! That probably explains your improvements while running easy!
You worked your butt off this year! Congrats on a fantastic running year.
Thank you, lady!
Easy is…not easy – hahaha! Man, there are so many days when I’m like, “wait, that was an EASY run?” Sigh. I can relate, Courtney!
Tara recently posted…Guilty
That one is a tough pill to swallow :/