MY PACE
Balanced Training FOR
Runners If you’re a runner looking to beef up your training regimen, the solution might feel obvious. Just log more kilometres, right? Actually, that’s wrong — or at least partially wrong. Like most other things in life, the answer to becoming a better athlete is taking a more holistic approach. Even if your one true love is pounding the pavement (or the grass, or the gravel or the treadmill — all surface levels are applicable here), diversifying your training routine is key to both reducing the risk of injury and also optimising your desired results. Variety is, after all, the spice of life.
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2021 • MY VIRTUAL CHALLENGE MAGAZINE
R
eady to get started? Here’s what you need to incorporate into your training regimen, starting immediately.
Recovery Time
If you don’t voluntarily schedule in some rest time, you may be forced to do a whole lot more resting later on down the line when something goes wrong. Taking it easy gives your muscles, bones and tendons the chance to repair, rebuild and strengthen — and not giving them the time to do so makes it much more likely that you’ll experience an injury. No one wants to spend months recuperating from a stress fracture when the problem could’ve been avoided entirely with well-timed rest days — or even low-impact days. Exactly how much rest you need may depend on your body type and your training plan. If you’ve been training for a big race, for example, a post-race recovery period of one easy day for every kilometre you raced is recommended. You can also watch for signs of fatigue within your own body — poor general
