Training without racing -- Tips needed!

[getnthinr]

OK, how do you keep up your mileage/training when there is no race in the immediate future? What do you use to motivate yourself?

The price of gas, and life in general, has conspired against me this year. It looks as though I'll have only two races prior to Goofy -- the Minnie (because it's already paid for) and the Disneyland Half. (The Run to Victory is still on my list because my family hasn't completely forbid it, but it is not a certainty.) That's pretty scary to me because I typically schedule many races to evaluate my treadmill training -- especially near the end of the year when I normally do 3-4 marathons as part of my Goofy training. (Frankly, I can much more easily do a marathon (and get a medal) than do 20+ miles on the treadmill with no reward other than a shower waiting.)

So does anyone here train without doing many races? Do you have any tips for keeping consistent? Races have always been my way of staying on track and now I've got to find another reinforcer -- or a way to make money to support my race habit which I figure is a lot less likely.

I think training, like racing, is often a "head game" -- if I can just change the way I think about training (set other goals, look at it a different way) then maybe I can get through this lean racing year.

Anyone have any experience or advice to share? All comments are appreciated!

 

[solotraveler]

Well if you figure out the secret, please share it with me! I am awful about getting out there when I have nothing to train for.

Now, that said, one thing I tend to do when I don't have a race on the horizon is dial back my running and up my cross training to try and keep things fresh. I'll also set little goals for myself... sometimes it's to build to a half marathon training run or something of that nature... right now it's to try and run a 6:30 mile. So even if I'm not training for an official "race", I'm training for something.

I'll also dial back on the mileage... you won't see me running 16 mile training runs unless I've got a race. It's a lot easier to stay consistant with 6 milers than 16 milers.

I'm very interested in hearing what other folks have to say as well....

Kevin

 

[wtpclc]

Wendy - I don't go over 10 mile training runs, except when training fo January. Keeping my miles lower does help...Ot's best for me to race, though. Are you on a team? That has ehelped me a lot!

 

[Maherae]

Wendy, I'm no where NEAR the league you are, but here's my contribution.
I use http://www.gmap-pedometer.com to plot out new routes in my neighborhood. I am fortunate in that I can do up to 10 miles just around my house! My incentive has always been to get as fast as you!

 

[windwalker]

OK, how do you keep up your mileage/training when there is no race in the immediate future? What do you use to motivate yourself?

The price of gas, and life in general, has conspired against me this year. It looks as though I'll have only two races prior to Goofy -- the Minnie (because it's already paid for) and the Disneyland Half. (The Run to Victory is still on my list because my family hasn't completely forbid it, but it is not a certainty.) That's pretty scary to me because I typically schedule many races to evaluate my treadmill training -- especially near the end of the year when I normally do 3-4 marathons as part of my Goofy training. (Frankly, I can much more easily do a marathon (and get a medal) than do 20+ miles on the treadmill with no reward other than a shower waiting.)

So does anyone here train without doing many races? Do you have any tips for keeping consistent? Races have always been my way of staying on track and now I've got to find another reinforcer -- or a way to make money to support my race habit which I figure is a lot less likely.

I think training, like racing, is often a "head game" -- if I can just change the way I think about training (set other goals, look at it a different way) then maybe I can get through this lean racing year.

Anyone have any experience or advice to share? All comments are appreciated!

Well Wendy, I'm sorta kinda in a similar situation. My racing buddy is down for another month with her recovering feet. So we won't be doing the long training for a couple of months.

What I'm doing is concentrating on shorter distances. There are several 5Ks here during the year so I race and train for those. Do you have local 5ks there? Be a good change of pace for you if you do.

You are still my hero Wendy.

Walking Panda

 

[MouseDogMom]

Wendy - Are you doing Galloway this year, or is that out for the same reasons? I know I couldn't do the long runs without that. Otherwise, I'd be in the same boat. I haven't run anything longer than 3 miles since February cause the only races I've done have been a couple of 5K's, and like you, I'm having a hard time justifying those!

Jackie

 

[Lynn G]

I have 2 malamutes that need to be exercised - so I will always have that incentive to at least get out - but I think that if I did not have a race in the future, that I would not push to keep up the pace. I do hope to keep up training, even if there is not a race in the future, but I am not sure how I woud keep motivated.

 

[chimera]

I always do better with a race on the schedule. When I don't have one, I try to set a different goal like increasing my weekly mileage or increasing my running intervals.

You could also pick a race, maybe one that several WISHers are attending, and 'virtually' run it at home. Check out the World Wide Half thread. That may be something we could do as a team...or maybe we could even have our own virtual races. There's a group on sparkpeople that has a lady that coordinates a monthly 5K. Everyone goes out and runs their 5K on a particular weekend then reports back in with the results. She keeps track of all of it so folks know how they improve month to month.

 

[getnthinr]

I knew I could count on you guys! I've been away from my computer and look at all the good suggestions I came back to!

Kevin, you know, I always say I want to get faster, but in fact my training always consists of longer walks -- the most I do toward speedwork is occasional interval training. Reading your post, I wondered if some mornings I should literally do a warm up and cool down and just a mile -- trying to get my mile time down -- then try to combine my somewhat increased speed with endurance training as the year goes on. It is a different sort of goal, and that might help.

Carrie, yes, no doubt about it, races are great motivators for me. And they validate my training too -- it's the "real life" test of what I'm trying to accomplish daily. And you and Anne (Thanks, you sweet lady!) make a good point that I still have quite a few weeks yet that I can focus on simply doing 10 milers -- which is relatively painless in the greater scheme of things.

WW Dave, because I live in "the sticks", my local 5Ks tend to be about an hour away. They're also quite pricey -- $30-$35 being the norm for the ones that allow my pace. I'm hoping I can perhaps do two marathons that are drivable (no hotel room required) later in the year -- one is $55 and one is $40, but both are real butt-kickers (hilly and hard for me to complete within the time limit). They are probably a better use of my cash than the 5Ks, assuming I can fit them in our budget. With gas and our two new 16-yr-olds' sky-high-priced insurance, we are suffering a rather harsh adjustment to our descretionary spending. I'm not complaining -- it's just a stage and it'll straighten itself out. There are far worse things that others must deal with. I'm so sorry about Erica -- I read she had surgery. I hope she recovers quickly.

Jackie, it's not the money ($99 for a Galloway alumnus to do almost a year of long runs every weekend is a lot cheaper than racing) but it's the pace. I can't hang with the 14-min group -- the slowest Galloway training group. I tried last year, hoping I might get faster, but for whatever reason, even though my average page at races is typically less than 14-min miles, I cannot keep up with that training group. They are great folks, though!

Lynn, one of the places I routinely train is a nearby state park. They permit dogs, and I keep thinking I might be brave enough to take our shepherd/chow mix there. I'm usually a real coward about walking alone -- especially there where you can be quite isolated. Maybe having the dog with me would make me feel safer.

Mel, I saw your post about the World Wide Half and that does appeal to me. I did the Nike Womens Half virtually and really enjoyed that. It's not like "being there" but it is infinitely better than just "doing the miles" on my own.

Thanks so much for your help, folks! I was embarrassed earlier today as I thought about my post -- I mean I have three spectacular races scheduled this year for which I am really grateful, and two of them will involve my family (who never comes with me to races) -- so they are very special events! I did not mean to come across as a spoiled brat. The thing is -- I've only ever trained with an upcoming race in mind, and for my Goofy training, I've always done multiple marathons and halfs. This is going to be a very different year and it worries me a bit. I'm sure it's doable though.

Thanks, WISH Team!!!!!!!!