ExplainerHow to train to run more consistently, avoid peaks and dips in motivation
- Consistency in training is more important than a few sporadic great sessions, but can be hard to achieve
- Here are some tips to help you achieve greater consistency in your training programme and avoid being at the whims of your motivation
When it comes to sustainable improvements in your running, consistency over time is the key – and is far more important than a few heroic sessions here and there.
A block of hard sessions will see you improve your speed, but becoming very fit only to lose those gains and have to work your way back up again is frustrating.
There are a few ways you can help yourself be more consistent in your training over a long period. Here are our top tips:
Don’t beat yourself up
Consistency is measured over months, not days or weeks. So, don’t beat yourself up if you do miss a session or even have a bad week. We can’t all be professional athletes with no other commitments.
A common barrier to consistency is that after missing one or two sessions, a runner’s motivation plummets and they miss the next session too. The spiral begins and suddenly they are out of their routine and losing all their hard-earned gains.
Avoid the spiral by shrugging off a bad patch and getting back out on the track, road or trail.
Go slow
Running fast is stressful on your body. In the short term, you might see a spike in your performance but it is not sustainable over months and your consistency will suffer.
Include plenty of “easy” runs in your programme. This will improve your aerobic capacity and practice time on your feet without the stress of going all-out, so that you can train regularly.