How to Thrive During Peak Summer Training
You’re fired up about your goals, but as the long runs get longer and the heat starts to wear you down, even the most motivated runners can find themselves wavering a bit in their eagerness to run.
In anticipation of late August training battles, we connected with our team to hear their thoughts on how to find joy in the process and get fired up to train when motivation is waning.
1.Back to basics
“Forget race goals for a minute. Reflect on what first made you a runner and rediscover your motivation to run. Use this as your fuel to head out the door, then each step as fuel for the next.”
- Dr. Chantelle Maryuen, Chiropractor and Track Star turned Road Enthusiast
2. Lean into Community
It’s a long process, there will be many ups and downs throughout, but community always helps.
“Knowing that things aren’t always linear before diving in sets you up for success. You knew the tough days were coming and here they are.
Group runs and workouts help with motivation, accountability and push during the many weeks of training. Variability in routes and locations to run is also helpful.”
- Bojan Hasanagic, Physiotherapist, Runner and Cyclist
3. You get to be in control
Remember you get to do this!
“How lucky are we to get to push our limits and see what we can do?
If the magnitude of the overall goal and training ahead is bringing you down, focus on the run you are in and not looking too far ahead. This is a great strategy for the race as well.”
This isn’t supposed to be joyful at all times!
“This is hard and tough times are to be anticipated. There will also be tough moments on race day, so whenever it gets tough in training, think of it as an opportunity to work through it. The more you practice this, the better prepared you will be for race day.
Your mindset plays a huge role in training and racing, and you get to be in control of that!”
-Dr. Brittany Moran, Chiropractor, Coach and Marathoner
4. All the things you love about the run
In training, we become so focused on paces, mileage and so, so much data.
If you’re struggling to find your sweet spot as the weeks of training drag on, consider finding ways to look beyond those numbers. It’s scary to give up that benchmark, but it can pay off in endless ways.
Consider:
“Sometimes it’s worth it to shift the intention of a run so that your primary measure of success is your ability to stay open to wonder and amazement. What did you notice about yourself or the world on the run that filled you with wonder?
The single “lost” workout will not make or break you on race day, and allowing yourself to be open to the ways that running invites us to be playful and full of wonder can be a launchpad for big things.
Remember this: progress is not linear. There are peaks and valleys when running. This applies to mental game and motivation just as much as it does performance. After every valley, if you stick with it, you will experience a higher peak.”
-Lindsay Scott, Physiotherapist, Coach, and Triathlete
A Shift in Perspective
Think back to times when your training was especially difficult. For example, when you were going through a persistent injury.
“Comparing our current state to another time of difficulty can put into perspective a few things:
1. That we have been here before and came out the other side.2. That this time might not be the worst experience we have had in terms of running
3. That these feelings move in cycles and even though our level of joy may be low now, in the near future we will likely regain our joy naturally.”
-Dr. Matas Nakrosius, Naturopathic Doctor and Runner
Tune out to tune in
“Strike a balance between connecting with your environment, as well as yourself during your runs. Paying attention to internal, and external cues is important. Being too inwardly focused, can predispose you to miss some of the beauty of your surroundings. That beauty, whether it’s the rhythms of the city waking up in the early morning or a nature filled vista, is a huge part of the gift of running.”
- Roman Izquierdo, Physiotherapist and Runner