Smart Running Revolution: Personalized Plans for Experienced Runners [2bb0]

Recently, I received a private message from a fellow runner who said he had a quarrel with his family over his running training. He mentioned that his family is in the catering business, which requires long working hours with almost no rest on holidays. Therefore, he can only use the time before and after work for running training.

However, his family believes that he spends too much time on running training and does not spend enough time with his children at home. Even though he exercises during non-working hours, his family often scrutinizes him, which puts a lot of pressure on him. So, this runner asked whether he should give up running due to such family obstacles.

In fact, I believe many runners have encountered similar situations. For example, you want to practice long-distance running on weekends, but your girlfriend wants you to go shopping with her. Or you want to participate in a marathon in another city but have to give up due to work commitments. So, how should we balance running and life when these 'small conflicts' arise?

Participate in races in moderation

With the popularity of marathons and trail running events, many runners impulsively sign up for various races. Sometimes, they even forget about their registrations until the event is near, forcing them to participate reluctantly.

Some runners sign up for many races in a short period and try to give their best in each one. However, most runners are not professional athletes, so they need to manage their participation wisely.

If you spend the entire year in a highly tense state preparing for marathons, sacrificing all your social and leisure time and strictly controlling your diet, your life will lack a lot of fun.

Manage your time wisely

If you want to squeeze time out of your life for running and exercising, you will inevitably have to sacrifice other activities and time. You need to carefully consider and weigh which activities can make way for your running and which ones are indispensable.

This requires you to adjust according to your life schedule, as others cannot provide you with an answer. For example, if some tasks do not need to be completed during your running time, you can postpone them to free up time for running.

Focus on the quality of your runs

Since you have taken valuable time to run, you should focus on the effectiveness of your training and the quality of your exercise. For instance, you can vary your speed, rhythm, and running locations to make your training more effective and avoid monotony.

Eliminate unnecessary mileage and avoid running without purpose.Try to have a purpose for each training session. Keeping a training journal can be helpful. However, do not overdo it; even running just 1 kilometer is better than not running at all when you cannot fully execute your training plan.

Create a running plan

If you only focus on short-term goals, it will be difficult to reach your full potential. After achieving short-term goals, some runners may easily lose motivation, and their training results may be wasted. On the contrary, if you set long-term goals and create a running plan that suits you, you can combine multiple short-term victories to achieve greater success.

Typically, most runners use a 7-day week as a training cycle.In fact, you can adjust the 7-day training cycle to a 10-day or 14-day cycle to make your training more flexible..

You can also calm down and list all the things you need to do each day, then consider which tasks can be skipped or shortened. For example, if you plan to watch TV for 2 hours every night, you can reduce it to 1 hour and use the extra hour for running.

Adjust according to the seasons

Some runners keep themselvesin intense training all year round,but this is not necessary. You can make adjustments according to seasonal changes. Spring and autumn have pleasant weather, making them more suitable for running.

In summer and winter, you can slightly reduce your exercise time due to significant weather changes. During these seasons, your body is more prone to heatstroke or catching a cold during your runs. During this period, you can choose todo other activities, such as spending quality time with family, going on family trips,visiting friends and relatives,relaxing and entertaining yourself, etc.

Gain family support

For those with families, exercising is indeed a luxury, but it is not impossible. Before implementing your exercise plan, you can have a deep conversation with your family, letting them understand the importance of exercise to you and your desire to balance family and exercise.Once you reach a consensus, you can exercise with ease. If exercising leads to family conflicts or you give up family life, it is not worth it.

This is very important. Even if they do not run, gaining the understanding and support of friends and family will greatly benefit a runner's training. However, no one likes someone who talks endlessly about their training. Understanding is mutual; while loving running, do not forget to leave some time for family and friends.

Find like-minded friends

A perfect way to combine running with socializing is to find a group of like-minded people. You can find them on race tracks, school tracks, nearby parks, and sports equipment stores. The internet is an even more convenient and quick way. In the eyes of runners, there are only two types of people: those who run and those who do not. Regardless of your profession, background, or age, as long as you love running, you can become like-minded friends.

Summary

As someone who loves running, finding a balance between running andlife is very important.Running holds a significant place in a runner's life because it can enhance your physical fitness, ensure your health, and bring you additional joy.

However, runners should note that running should not completely dominate your schedule.Running should integrate into your life, not make your life revolve around running.If you can balance these two aspects well, you will reap the benefits that running brings to your life.