For so long I was injured or coming back from injury, so I was slowly increasing each run very systematically. Then, I decided to do a half so I structured a couple of weeks of workouts to prepare for that. Now, I don’t have any sort of plan. This week I had a hard time deciding how much to run and ended up doing more than I set out to do. (This is what happens when I don’t have a plan.) I should really just make myself some sort of loose plan to follow just so I don’t overdo it! When I’m feeling good and give myself too much flexibility, I want to run all the miles.
This is What Happens When I Don’t Have a Plan
Monday: 4 miles easy
I wasn’t sure how my legs would feel after the half, but they loosened up pretty quickly! I went to my chiropractor after work. I saw their massage therapist, who I had scheduled an appointment with like a month ago. The timing worked out with it being right after a race!
Tuesday: Strength Training
Wednesday: 5 miles easy
I didn’t know how far I should run, and ended up doing 5. I was thinking I would do 3-4. I’m not sure how I ended up with 5 but I guess I just wanted to keep going.
Thursday: Strength Training
Some days, the foam rolling is the best part of my workout!
Friday: 45 minutes spin bike
I could have gone to the pool, but staying home and riding my own bike sounded much better.
Saturday: 10 miles (When I don’t have a plan I run too much!)
This run was kind of a struggle. My legs just felt like they were slow and heavy. I was planning to stop at 8, but by the time I got to 7 I was starting to feel better. I decided to keep going and ended up with 10.
Sunday: Rest
I realized how letting myself run “whatever I want” can get me in trouble when I was talking to Rob after Saturday’s run. He told me he ran 8 miles. I said “I was going to do 8, but then I did 10”. I don’t even know how I added those 2 miles on, but I did. And if I had taken fuel I may have done more. I definitely need a way to keep myself in check!
That being said, I kind of want to start thinking about working a little more on speed rather than distance. I know I can run for a long time, but my paces are slower than usual. I’m thinking now that the weather is finally getting cooler this might be a good time for that.
You may also like:
A Look Back at August 2016
I Miss Outdoor Running…
One Foot in Front of the Other
How to Schedule Weekly Runs and Workouts Without a Training Plan
Do you run more than you should when you don’t have a plan?
Do you prefer long, slow runs or short, faster runs?
How were your workouts last week?
I know I’m guilty of winging it when I don’t have anything planned. It’s so hard to stop when you are feeling good and in the flow.
Exactly! Its hard to know exactly how much is too much.
lately i’ve enjoyed the shorter, faster runs but some weeks i end up extending the runs because I’m so used to running longer! 5 miles though on a weekday lately is a really happy distance for me.
I lke 5 miles on weekdays too, but Im not sure Im ready to do that regularly just yet! Ive been doing one 5 miler a week and as long as I keep my other weekend run short I think I’m ok.
I’m definitely starting to see that I prefer long, slow runs. So next year that will be my focus. Well done on getting those miles done, even though you didn’t quite have a plan to do so many!
The long, slow runs are great!
I definitely prefer long and slow runs, especially when the weather is nice and it just feels SO GOOD to be outside you know? On those days I never want the run to end. This year, of course, I’m just happy to run 1 mile on any day in any weather, but I know someday I’ll run long again just like you!
You will be back to doing long runs before you know it!
I am the same way, when I feel good and am not injured I just want to run all the miles! I think it just depends on my mood though… sometimes I enjoy the longer runs while sometimes I want to be speedy!
Usually I go through phases where I like either speed or long runs, but lately Ive been all about the long, slow runs!
Could definitely relate to this when I was running more – no plans mean no stopping if you don’t want to, but that’s not always the best thing!
Exactly! It can be helpful to have a general idea of how much to run.
I think acknowledging you have a tendency to do this is the first step! When I’m not on a plan I tend to default to the same, short, fast runs. Since I hurt my back a couple of years ago, running back-to-back days is rarely an option. Maybe set yourself a weekly mileage limit and keep going on all that crosstraining.
I think its helped alot that I have stuck with running 3 days a week- that limits me from doing too much each week. I think a weekly mileage limit is a good idea.
I like when I don’t have a training plan so I can run what ever I feel like. When I do have a plan sometimes I feel obligated to hit certain miles and paces.
Its definitely nice to not have a plan. I just been to make sure I don’t do too much!
Sometimes the longer runs feel easier to me than the shorter runs, especially speedwork!
Yes, I definitely agree with that!
If I don’t have a plan, most days I end up running for about a hour or so. I am not very inclined to do speedwork at the end without a plan.
Ive been enjoying fartlek runs but it feels weird to do harder runs without a real purpose in mind!
Well, I always err on the side of caution…it’s like my default LOL . I probably run “not enough” when I’m not on a structured plan. As long as I get 3-4 runs/week (no matter how short), I’m totally good with everything 😉
I wish I did that! Once I get going, I find it hard to stop.
Because of my schedule in general, I prefer shorter, faster runs because I can fit those in much better than longer, slower ones. If I don’t have a plan, I end up all over the place, but the first thing that goes are those long slow distance runs. The most I’ll run without a plan is probably 5 to 7 miles.
I think I have the hardest time with my weekend runs because I feel like I have more time to run as long as I want!
Oh yes, this is me too. I just want to run and the runs end up a little longer than they would if I were on a plan, or I run too often. I Iike a plan to keep me in line!
Who makes the reflective vest (straps) that you are wearing in your pictures? I’m on the lookout for one and wondered how comfortable they are. Hoping you don’t even notice you have it on?
Sorry, i meant to reply to your question about my vest but I kept forgetting to check! Its the Amphipod Xinglet Lite Reflective Running Vest on Amazon. Ive had it for like 2 years and have no complaints!
I stick with short distances when I don’t have a plan. It keeps my base in check, and then when training does start, I always have a plan. winging it seems to get me injured.
That makes sense! Maybe I need to have a race on the horizon so I would feel better about taking it easy before I started training.
I am so happy you feel good! You’ll get no judgment from me! I’ve fast tracked the last few weeks to get back to what I consider “normal” half marathon mileage. Because…I feel better than I have in a long time too. {Knock on wood}. I’d also like to work on speed now that I can level off on the weekly mileage. Thanks for linking.
Glad you are feeling good too! Its nice to get to a place where you feel comfortable with the weekly mileage.
I seem to always stick to the same type of routine each week which is about 3 runs (walking right now) a couple pool sessions and a couple cycling sessions + weights. Normally I only go about 3-4 miles on my runs simply because I only have a certain amount of time and I always row then lift so I need to get back inside quickly! Well, quickly is a loose term….I never am fast at any of my sports, really!
I guess I cant really do much more than what Ive been doing anyway because of time constraints! Its the weekends that get me in trouble because I feel like I have more time to run.
I love the structure of a plan as well, but I will go the opposite direction. If I don’t have a schedule to follow, weeks will go by before I realize I haven’t gone for a run!
I can definitely see how than can happen too!
You’ll probably find that most of us ‘older’ runners tend to lean towards those shorter faster runs when we’re not training for anything specific…. too much of an injury risk otherwise. So I say, do it while you’re young and your body can handle it!! 🙂
I definitely worry that my body already cant handle it! Hopefully if I just stick with what Im doing and don’t push things anymore I’ll be ok.
I tend to NOT challenge myself enough when I don’t have a schedule, so I usually try to adhere to some sort of running plan (even if I am not preparing specifically for a race) LOL
I think thats really common! And probably one of the reasons Im doing more than I should is because I am just coming back from so much time off. Usually, when I have a break from training, I end up cutting back and doing less, at least for a while.