Guest Post: What lies ahead... by Pat Walsh

 ** What lies ahead **

I recently read something that might resonate with us and help for the future. It could be for life in general or maybe could be adapted for us runners.

Pay attention to where you are ;
Pay attention to what you want ;
Allow yourself permission to get it.
🏃 Pay attention to where you are ;

We can dream of next Year but to pin your hopes on something is foolish in case it is taken from you. Yes, I would like to do this and that, but you must be flexible, adaptable and ready to roll with whatever way this goes. Deal with the reality of today and what it means for us and how much it allows us to do.

A long term maintenance plan would be a good idea.
Good for the body, good for the head.
We can dream of glory and allow ourselves the permission to go for it.
Set a weekly target of mileage and training sessions.
Write down the plan for the week ahead and tick it off when complete.
It doesn’t have to be too hard but it is committing to it each week and sticking to it is the key.
It will help pass the weeks and give a focus to help us through the winter.
Something as simple as 20 miles per week. 2 midweek 5 and 1 weekend 10
You could do speed instead of 1 of the midweek 5 miles
Add another midweek 5 and make your total 25
Some weekends run a 12 or 13 instead to keep you Half-Marathon ready.

Don’t neglect a weekly flexibility / core work session to keep you injury free.
Build to it gradually if this seems too much. Do the sessions but less miles.
-- 3,3 and 7
-- 4,4 and 8
Change the route as often as you can.

Hills will slow you down but for the moment they are great to include to help your leg strength.
Forget the watch some days if you know the distance of your run and just take in the sights and sounds of nature.
Plan to get a running buddy for the long run and enjoy the company.
🏃 Pay attention to what you want ;

What you will get from this is a long term base of stamina that can then be very easily targeted at some event if and when it turns up next year whatever that may be.
This can be the base work, the foundation laid down. Too many injuries are from increasing mileage from no base.

As the weeks go on, applaud yourself for another bit of base work done. If you feel the need to go 6 weeks on / 1 week off then that is OK. Be clever and put the 1 week off around Christmas when it might be nice to take it easy.
Don’t overdo it please and get injured or sick.
Don't forget the stretching
🏃 Allow yourself permission to get it.

Commit to going for it and adjusting all other domestic, work, social situations to allow yourself the chance to succeed.
If you want it, go for it. Nothing worth achieving is ever done easily. PB's are hard earned. Long distance runs take months of training.
Say to yourself, 'I'm going for this'.
Ultimately you sink or swim by your own thoughts and actions.
Have a lovely weekend, be good, be kind, be careful.