I have a training plan - now what?

A training plan is all well and good, and will work really well if you do all the sessions. Here are some tips to help you stick to your plan and train safely.

·       Schedule your schedule: set an alarm, find a slot in your calendar, scribble in it the diary but make sure you know when you are going to run each week

·       Runs: If there are (eg) three sessions each week so do try and fit them all in – they will help you to run stronger and provide variety so each run isn’t the same

·       Buddy up: find a running buddy to keep you motivated and make full use of the group to share the ups and downs as you train for the next 6 weeks

·       Self-care: Look after yourselves. We all have busy lives and sometimes we take on too much. Be mindful of everything else that’s happening and keep an eye on your general health. If you are feeling unwell it’s better to miss (or reschedule) your session rather than risk more serious illness

·       Be safe: Try and run in the daylight or where there are street lights. If you are running at dawn, dusk or when it is dark please wear high-vis or reflective clothing and take a torch

·       Warm up/cool down: Most of the sessions will have a warm up jog to get you up to speed for the session. Please don’t skip these, likewise the cool down. It helps your body to prepare and recover from exercise

·      Massage: if you are training hard, a regular visit to a sports massage therapist can help you to stay on top of any niggles or injuries. By checking over your soft tissue and looking at how your joints are moving, you can get advice on additional exercises and benefit from massage.

·       Enjoy and celebrate: Remind yourself why you’re doing the course and whilst you might not enjoy every step, I hope you have a smile at the end of the run and congratulate yourself for getting out the door and doing something good for your body and mind.

Ask me for advice on training plans and how a coach can help you stick to your plan.