Fall into Routine
Fall is my favorite season of the year…(I may say the same thing about spring when it rolls around), but there is something about cooler temperatures and fall racing that re-energizes me! Even though our Texas seasons are limited, there is finally a noticeable coolness in the morning air. After summer vacations mixed in with family time, pool days, and warm weather running, fall is the perfect time to fall back into routine.
I thrive off of having a rhythm and routine to my training. Like many of you, I am training for a fall race. At this point, the motivation of beginning a new training plan has started to wear off. The miles are adding up. Fatigue is more prevalent. It seems easier to skip a weekly strength session. When motivation starts to dip or the miles feel hard, here are a few strategies I use to help me to fall back into routine:
Accountability
I do most of my runs alone, but last week, I met a friend at a park one morning and we ran together. Friends or training partners are a great source of accountability. Plus, the miles go by faster with good conversation!
Variety
Consider changing up your typical running route to add variety to your routine! Perhaps go to a new park, change the terrain from road to trail or vice versa, or run your usual route in the opposite direction.
Seek Guidance
When I am noticing more fatigue than usual or a decrease in motivation, I seek guidance from a mentor or a coach. It can be very helpful to have another set of eyes on my training and guidance from an expert on how to adjust going forward.
If you are dealing with a niggle, persistent pain, injury, or just feeling off in your training - we are here to help you get back on track. Consider a PT evaluation or Run Analysis to tune up your training and get you to race day feeling healthy, strong, and ready to perform your best!
