Training Tips

When to Say When

As stated multiple times in many of my previous training tips, effective training is nothing more than subjecting the body (and mind!) to appropriate doses of event specific training stress and then allowing the body to recover, absorb and adapt to this training stress via the insertion of easy training sessions and/or periods of complete rest.  Although this formula may sound overly simplistic, that’s the way the cookie crumbles and the way that progress is made!  Ignore the simple stress:recovery relationship and you’re setting yourself up for subpar results and a frustrating training experience.

When approaching key training sessions such as tempo runs, interval sessions, pace runs, etc. you’ll want to keep the stress:recovery principle in mind.  Note that I used the term “appropriate doses of event specific training stress” in the previous paragraph. Training stress is a relative term; what constitutes a stressful workout for 1 athlete (i.e. a set of 5 x 1 mile repeats at 7 min/mile pace) might constitute a very easy/recovery session for someone else.  When subjecting yourself to high stress training sessions, it’s important to go into the workout with a specific objective in mind, but to never forget the importance of tuning into your body’s signals over the course of that workout in order to tailor the session to your body’s status on that given day.

As a coach who works with athletes from all around the country, one of the fundamental challenges I face when prescribing key training sessions is the fact that I rarely, if ever, have a chance to physically watch the athletes I work with as they tackle the workouts that I prescribe.  When I do have the luxury of actually working with an athlete in the field I can easily revise a key training session on a moment’s notice if the athlete’s response to the main workout set warrants my doing so.  For instance, if weather conditions are challenging, the athlete’s performance starts faltering prematurely, or the athlete is simply too tired heading into the workout to effectively execute the original plan, I will revise the training session immediately to ensure that the stress load remains appropriate for the athlete’s performance potential on that given day.  Sometimes, the revision might actually involve going so far as scrapping the key workout all together and sending the athlete out for an easy run or, in extreme cases, sending the athlete home to rest.

When working with athlete’s from afar, I do my best to convey the importance of their taking ownership of the key workouts that they engage in.  Understanding the importance of staying flexible, at all times, when approaching training, especially key training sessions, is a must.  Trying to adhere to specific training paces, distances etc. with complete disregard for fatigue and/or stress levels, weather conditions, etc. is a recipe for disaster.

As a former Olympian once told me, “Anyone can train them self into the ground.  I was able to make two Olympic teams by training more intelligently than the other guys, not harder.”

As you move forward with your training plan, never lose sight of the importance of keeping your training individualized and flexible.  Doing so will not only lead to better results, but a much more enjoyable and rewarding training program as well!