Full disclosure – not all of what follows are entirely my thoughts. Many thanks to L. Marcoux at Training Peaks for the inspiration in writing this blog.
In life, I’m not one to encourage bemoaning the past but in order to look forward, sometimes it’s necessary to review what was, to figure out what could be. Looking forward to your next training season requires a bit of reflection on your last season to be sure. By looking closely at your successes as well as where you may have come up short – you’ll have a better picture of how you might approach the next season.
If your game is running, then consider the ‘supporting cast’ that is part of every training session or event – from start to finish: strength, mental training, confidence, nutrition, hydration, sleep and recovery. In my experience, strength or resistance training gets kicked to the sidelines; mental training is left in the closet; sleep is assumed and recovery can mean anything from a day off of training that gets filled with a weeks-worth of chores – to a day on the couch. The running part of your training is only one part of your success. Running more or harder won’t make you a stronger, faster, less injured runner. Thinking about the whole package is what separates the successful runner from everyone else.
Consider digging into the following questions to help you plan your next season. Take some time to jot a few thoughts down. You may surprise yourself and find this enormously helpful.
| What goals did you achieve and/or crush? What didn’t go so well? |
| How did crushing your goals make you feel? If relevant, where did you come up short? Did you set your goals high enough? Or too high? |
| Did you stay on task throughout the season? If so, what helped you to do this? Did your training wane as the season progressed? Why? Where might you have been consistent or inconsistent (consider the ‘supporting cast’)? What could you have done differently? |
| Did your training become ‘flat’ or were you consistently building throughout the season? If you felt ‘flat’ – when in the season did this happen? What else was going on right then? |
| What are your strengths in running that you can build upon as you move into the next season? |
| What important lessons did you learn this season and how did they help you grow as an athlete? |
| How did your training and racing fit into your life this season? Did you strike a balance with family, work and other responsibilities? |
Spending time reflecting on past training can be very helpful to you in planning for the next season. With our wearable technology – it’s easy to keep track of the data but it always helps to keep a written log of your training so that these sorts of exercises are easier to accomplish. We have very short memories for the good stuff and long memories for the bad stuff. Writing about your successes can be very motivating and provide an avenue for you to see that you truly are amazing in all that you do and will be more so – with a little reflection and proper planning.
LiveSplendidly!