Does anyone else have this problem? I know there must be others.
I find myself at this cross roads once again. I am 3 weeks into my training for the Silver Strand Half Marathon and I am getting anxious to do more, but I must be patient! Every book, blog, training site I have ever read about running says the same thing: do not increase your mileage by more than 10% each week.
Runners World hit the nail on head in their article about the patience in training:
"For runners, the biggest enemy is often their own energy and enthusiasm. You're feeling great, so you figure that you can handle more training... so you plunge excitedly into the training. Great--except for one thing. Your body doesn't share in your enthusiasm. It follows one simple, unchanging principle: gradual adaptation to stress."
Gradual being the key word here.
Another site I found has a different approach from the 10% rule. Suggesting a slow increase in mileage for 3 weeks, then decreasing mileage in the fourth week to where you were at week one.
Anyone ever tried this method?
There are lots of sites/people that would argue the 10% rule is crap, but coming from someone who is constantly starting and stopping then starting again, all because of injury... I would recommend it. Especially for novice runners.
So, I am promising myself that I will be patient. I will be determined, I will do it, but I will be patient!
