How to prepare for not racing…again!

Blurry eyed and struggling to focus?

It has been a long time since I have raced a race! The reason I say, ‘raced a race’, is because I am still racing. I am racing every day. Racing to hit target times, racing to catch heart rate zones, racing to top weekly mileage, even ‘secretly’ racing for the odd crown on Strava (shhh, don’t tell anybody).

But what should we do to prepare again for the physical nature of not being involved in a race, one against real life humans, the ones that are next to us in the flesh, remember that? My advice is to make MANY short-term goals, weekly if needs be.

So, this week I am going to hit 40 miles, a 10% increase in last week’s mileage. This week I am going to do a new route that involves more elevation. This week I’m going to do my favourite route quicker by 5 seconds. Or this week I am going to hit my target pace during all 5 reps. The list can go on and the list is endless. Keep it motivational, challenging, yet achievable. Letting others know your goals and targets too also keeps it real. There is no getting out of it when you post on Facebook your aims and ambitions. Definitely no concealing it when you let your partner, child or parents know your plans… But isn’t it just great when somebody asks you ‘hey, did you knock off those 5seconds’ and you can reply ‘yes!’?

This is all well and good, but you may be asking, ‘what for? With no races around, why should I be getting myself in good shape’. To this, I answer with a question. Why wouldn’t you? Why wouldn’t you want to be improving, more time = more improvements. There is a ‘vital period’ to hit optimal mileage or certain times in training ready to peak for a race, but those periods can still happen. You would be giving your body time to reach a high, ready to bring it down a phase and rebuild when the time comes. Better this way than trying to scramble up the ladder from functioning on 10 or 20%!

Another vital ingredient to your psychological state of mind during these unprecedented times is to be having your own wins on the running battlefield. What a boost it gives to be doing something for yourself after a long day working from work, home or otherwise. Knowing that you can keep giving fitness your high 5’s as well as running to re-energise.

In answer to my rhetorical question, how to prepare for not racing…again, then you have got to continue to be you. Run to make you happy, run to keep you fit, run to reach goals, and run to not sit still.

No races does not mean no racing!