How to Keep Pace with the Holidays
We’re in the thick of the holiday season, the time of year where the stresses of holiday shopping and family time can make getting that pesky easy run or strength session infinitely tougher. But those missed training hours can add up to missed goals or set backs if we’re not careful. But don’t fret…because there’s a better way that can see you have your family time and running too!
So lets talk strategy:
Plan ahead
Come on, ya know this one was coming ;)
One of the best ways to maximize your training time is just planing ahead. You have a general idea of what your travel, shopping, and family plans will be over the next few weeks. Try writing them out or put them on a calendar so you can see what your free time will look like, then add your training hours. I’m a big fan of blocking out time on my calendar so I can realistically see what time I have for workouts and if I need to make adjustments.
Be reasonable with your time
If you find that there’s a time crunch with some of your workouts, make adjustments. For example, recovery runs/easy day’s are meant to be easy; if you need to trim some minutes off that’s ok. If you have a stressful workout on Monday but no time or energy for it, swap it for an easier/recovery day and do the workout later that week. Your workouts are meant to push you, whether that challenge is on a Monday or Thursday doesn’t matter…Make adjustments. Which brings me to my next point:
Communicate with your coach
If you miss a workout, don’t have enough time for your current training, or find you’re behind, don’t sweat! Just communicate with Coach D. I can help you make adjustments that will get you back on track.
Don’t beat yourself up
Missed tempo runs, swim sessions, and weightlifting are a part of training. No athlete gets through an entire training cycle without making adjustments. Plan to fail every once in a while, especially during the holidays. Don’t and I MEAN DON’T try to catch up on missed sessions. Two a day’s will not get you caught back up. It’s like missing a meal, you wouldn’t double up on breakfast tomorrow if you missed it today. You want loose much anyone; Aerobic base fitness takes about 25-35 days before you’ll see a decline, and it doesn’t take much to touch it up.
Don’t feel guilty working out
Feeling the stress or guilt of missing out on family time, don’t! Even during busy times, it’s good to take some time for yourself. Relieving stress through exercise is healthy. It can recharge you mentally, which will help you deal with everything else going on.
Remember, your holiday time bucket only has so much room for everything you want to do. Plan and prioritize your time, make smart adjustments, use Coach D if you need help, be forgiving if you miss a few days, and let yourself enjoy your training time!
