Running Staleness: How To Maintain Enthusiasm For Running Success

Running staleness

Running staleness comes from far too many miles and not enough recovery.

Have you felt stuck in one ability level. You keep running the same time over and over again. Do you think this is only for beginners and novice runners?

Hardly.

I have had more stagnation periods in my training over the years than I can count. You have to believe in yourself, your goals and your ability to jump ability levels.

Bad races are always tough but you have to place importance to failed race performances. It is the only way you are going to be able to adjust your training and change what is wrong.

I loved hearing Jason talk about Matt Frazier.

He runs a site called No Meat Athlete.

Matt dropped 100 minutes off his marathon time, from 4.06 to 3.09.

If you're willing to make the necessary steps these big improvements can be had.

I went to the 2007 California International Marathon a 2.40.02 marathoner and left with a 2.19.35. Keep your expectations in check and trust in your training.

Focus on what you can control. Trust me, if you have put in the work in training, the results are going to show in the race.

Form a Strategy

How two bad marathon experiences prior to breaking 2.20.00? I formed a strategy. I looked at what was not working in my approach and implemented it into my own training.

Furthermore, I was not running long enough at goal race pace in training. You have to keep in mind. If your goal is to hold a certain a pace for 26.2 miles you have to get accustomed to that pace.

Now, if you can hold it for 16 miles during a 100 mile week, that is strength and a great indicator of where you stand. Look at your own training.

Ask yourself,

What pace do I need to hold for the entire 26.2 mile distance and how can I train my body differently to sustain my goal pace?

.We know a 3.30 marathon correlates to an 8.00 per mile pace.

If you are serious about breaking the 3 hour marathon you may want to check out our 3 Hour Marathon Pro course.

Think ‘Long-Term', Not ‘Right Now'

It is a long-term goal I have had since 2002. Yours could be to earn a new PR, an Olympic Trials qualifying time or even make the Olympic Team.

Furthermore, this is not an instant gratification sport so you have to be patient.

I think about all the years I was fortunate enough to be coached by Jack Hazen who always stressed to me to take it slow.

It took me years to value the importance of thinking long-term. Results do not come overnight. Furthermore, the marathon is one of those running events where mass amounts of time can be dropped in one single performance.

I have Jack to thank for that. Our philosophy at Malone University was ‘hurt-adapt'. Malone was a powerhouse cross-country program many years before I was accepted onto the team in 1995.

What you have to look at in your training is the preparation first. The body will adapt to any stress you place on it. One of Jack's methods with training was super compensation. This is where the body becomes weaker after the workout. Then, it bounces back twice as strong 48 hours afterward.

Talent Doesn't Guarantee Success-Heart, Will and Focus Do

I have known numerous runners over the years who were much more talented than I who never broke 2.25.00 for the marathon. That being said, they did run under 14.00 for 5K.

There are many possible reasons for this but a talented runner who doesn't want it or have the passion to be a better runner will never, ultimately, challenge the focused athlete with a strategy. Talent alone will not guarantee success in running.

What you truly believe in your heart will carry over to your results. I believe in this wholeheartedly. I ran a 1.11 half marathon while I was at Malone and wanted to one day qualify for the Olympic Trials. Running one half that fast was hard enough let alone two, back to back.

I finally earned the 2008 Olympic Trials “A” standard time of 2.20.00. It was something that I envisioned for years, thought and dreamt about, believed in. The great billy mills, who won the gold medal in the 10,000m at the 1964 Olympic Games said it best,

The subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between reality or imagination

If you are stuck in your training. Change your course! Then, start working toward how you are going to create a masterpiece performance. It isn't as complicated as we make it. I find that I get the best ideas for my training by writing down things I want to change, than make solutions and training adjustments.

You can combat running staleness by continually reminding yourself of your long-term goals. What is it that you want?

Maintain Focus

I overcame a few years of not improving in the marathon by challenging what I was doing that was causing the same result. In addition to that, I have always had problems with taking in too little fluid and far too few calories in my marathons.

I recently ran my second fastest marathon, a 2.26.42, at the 2011 Monumental Indianapolis Marathon and made some improvements in that race.

Unfortunately, I lost significant time when I had to jump in a porta john at the 18th mile while running with the leaders.

I wrote a post about this called Take the Monkey Off Your Back | A Story of Persistence

If you have had similar issues. My heart goes out to you. It is a helpless feeling when you have an iron will but you have run out of the vital component to running a great marathon or race, energy.

Running staleness can be combated by proper nutrition and rest.

Closing Thoughts

Overcoming staleness is a matter of persistence, the will to get better and most importantly, educating yourself on where others have failed and do the opposite.

Running easy miles at 10 minute mile pace will provide fitness and stamina but how is that going to help you to run a 3.30 marathon at 8.00 per mile…does that make sense?

Remember, hurt, then adapt.

Your body will adapt to any stress you place on it. It takes roughly 21 days or 3 weeks to adapt to the stimulus you place on it in training.

Remember, you are in control of how you handle staleness, poor races.

Form a strategy, execute it and reach a higher level in your racing. Think of the regrets you will have if you let one bad race get the best of you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

Please feel free to leave a comment. I hope this was helpful. Please send me your feedback as to what areas of training you are would like written about. Any area I can assist you with.

Running staleness can be prevented. I hope some of what you learned can prevent you from having to deal with it.

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