How to Maintain Your Passion for Running
Posted by Keri on June 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment
Guest post: Uglyfinish.com
You have spent months preparing for your big race! You committed to your training schedule and saw it through to the end. It was such a commitment that you don’t remember what else in life there is to talk about after running. It’s exciting, motivational, challenging, and over.
Learn from our expert guest blogger, the owner of Iron Mountain Movement, Keri Cawthorne, how to maintain your passion for running even after the race is done.
The Race is Over, So Now What?
First of all, celebrate your accomplishment and let your body recover. Chances are you are feeling some stiffness or tenderness in your legs so take a couple of days off. Allow your muscles to heal but keep them loose with light activity such as walking or bike riding. Your body will tell you when it is ready to run again.
Even without a race on the calendar, try to schedule three weekly runs, one long, two short. Maintaining a long run of 45-60 minutes will give you just enough time and distance to transition into most training plans when you are ready to race again. Keep your two short runs to 30 minutes each and use them for speed play or hill training.
For some runners the days and weeks after a milestone race can be a little depressing without a goal or running focus, there are some who even lose their love for running. Using time between races to re-kindle your love for running is just as important as training. Try out a new route or venture into the trails or re-connect with a running buddy.