Have you ever felt unmotivated as a runner? Have you been inconsistent lately? We’re here to tell you that the secret to a great running performance is a great training plan. Here are 5 reasons why you need a training plan:
It’s very easy to get caught up in your training and not realize whether you are under training or overtraining. Most runners are often too excited to train which leads to overtraining. A training plan will help you set dedicated rest days to ensure that your body is not suffering from overtraining. By creating a detailed plan, you’ll be able to oversee if your training will help you achieve your overall running goals.
When you don’t have a clear training plan, it will be easy to fall into the trap of doing the same workout or running routine over and over again. When this happens, you’re more likely to become bored with your training and start to procrastinate. Spending some time creating a training plan will help you spice things up a bit which will make you become more excited about your training and become more productive.
The biggest benefit of having a training plan is being able to set long-term and achievable goals. Think of your training plan as a blueprint for success. Your training plan will give you a visual record of how much progress you have done. Do you want to join and finish a half marathon in Dubai? Do you want to improve your speed? Whatever your goal is, write it down and write what you need to do to achieve it. You can also track your strengths and moments of weakness which will help you identify areas you need to improve on as a runner.
There will always be days where it’s going to be hard to motivate yourself to train, however, your training plan can provide you with accountability to help you stay motivated. Having a detailed plan will help you see if your training is realistic enough to follow and make any changes if needed. If you’re a person that loves being able to check something off your list, you’ll also love having a structured training plan. This will help you build self-confidence when you see all the workout and running sessions you have consistently completed.
Having a training plan is also beneficial for those who want to join a running event. When you have a training plan, you’ll be able to set daily goals that will help you prepare for the event. This way, you’ll be able to become more confident in the actual event because you know that you have been training well.