Nov 18, 2024
Training Tips by Runzy Director of Coaching Joe McConkey
Taking a Calculated Risk
Plateaued with your running? Been a while since you set a PR? Wondering what's the cause? Certainly, the details of your training should be considered, along with nutrition and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, but often the missing variable is that there simply has not been enough time spent in 'unchartered' territory. In order to reach your potential, you might need to take a calculated risk...
Some examples:- Trying to run a 5k, from the start, 10-20 seconds faster than you have ever run.
- Going to the track and running a true all-out mile, starting faster than you ever have.
- Starting a half marathon with someone who you know is always faster than you.
You are going into the experiences knowing it is going to be tough. This time, however, you are ready to accept and ignore the intense feelings and negative self-talk for as long as possible. Instead, you are ready to battle the stress by focusing on staying relaxed and with a healthy curiosity about where exactly your true limits are. Be confident, be stubborn, be 'robotic', knowing the more you relax the better you'll adapt.
These are 'calculated' risks because you are doing them only when failing (having to stop or slow down) does not throw off your motivation (i.e. not a goal race), you have done the appropriate workouts to prepare you for the effort, and you have also been diligent with your regular homecare and strength work.
Though these efforts should be few and far in between (once every 1-3 years), they also might be just what is needed to shake off your pre-conceived notions of what you think you can do.
