Consistency
The 6th Edition of your favourite weekly running newsletter
Welcome back to your weekly dose of run chat.
A quick read of insightful tips and thoughts to help you with your running.
There’s nothing more important than this week’s topic. It’s the cornerstone of any successful running routine, and I believe almost everything you do in your training should contribute towards this. This week’s topic is consistency.
It’s not about the occasional long run or the sporadic burst of intense training; it’s about showing up week after week. Regular, sustained effort builds endurance, strengthens muscles, and ingrains habits that lead to long-term improvements. Without consistency, progress stalls, and the risk of injury increases.
Something to Think About
We all have different schedules and different life commitments. Each person’s ability to stay consistent with their training will depend on a whole host of factors. If you’re struggling to stay consistent, sit down with yourself and make a plan. Your plan should outline a schedule that can be most easily adhered to. Some people are more consistent if they train after work, and some (like me) are more consistent if they train before work. What’s important, is that you figure out what works for you.
Something to Ask Yourself
What stops me from being consistent? Am I training too hard too often? Am I going to bed too late? Would it be easier to train before/after work? Do I consider my training enough of a priority? What, in my control, can I change to make sure I show up more often? Am I dreading my training? Why? How can I make my training more enjoyable? Do I need more accountability?
So many questions. Focus on what’s within your control to be consistent.
Article of the Week 📄
The article "Consistency, Not Intensity, Is the Key to Running Success" from David Roche at Trailrunner emphasises that building a solid running routine through regular, moderate efforts is more beneficial for long-term progress than sporadic, intense workouts. You’ll learn how consistent training helps prevent injuries, improves endurance, and leads to sustainable improvements in their running performance.
Track of the Week 🎶
This week’s Track of the Week should be added to your running playlist. A feel good electronic track from genius producer Jasper Tygner:
Kashmer by Jesper Tygner (2021)
Personal Lesson
I think consistency tells you a lot about a person. It shows integrity, reliability, discipline, accountability, and perseverance. It’s a trait respect hugely in others, not just because it’s important, but because it’s hard.
I’ve learnt, in recent years, that, to achieve goals I once considered impossible, I just have to show up consistently over a long enough period of time and eventually the “impossible” becomes very possible. Patience has never been a strength of mine, but I believe running can be a great teacher. Progress may feel slow, but if you stay consistent and be patient, you may achieve more than you initially expected.
My colleague told me a CS Lewis quote the other day that’s stuck with me, and I hope it does for you too:
“Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes but, when you look back everything is different”.
Running - Life’s Metaphor
To be successful with your running, you have to be patient and you have to show up consistently. This is probably the most obvious metaphor for life? Ask anyone who’s reached big goals and they will tell you, to get there, you have to be patient and show up consistently.
Final Thoughts
Many runners struggle with injuries due to a lack of strength training and not appreciating the importance of easy runs. Our sedentary modern lifestyles make it even more crucial to build a strong foundation through consistent, easy training. This approach allows for more effective high-intensity sessions and reduces the risk of injury.
Consistent training is fundamental to ensure your body is built to withstand what you demand from it. You’re far more likely to pick up and injury if you haven’t built a strong base with long term consistent training.
Figure out how you can show up consistently over a long period of time and watch as the results start coming.
Thanks again for reading and subscribing.
Run the runnable, and keep showing up for yourself!
Tommy :)
