Top-10 Off-Season Tips For Runners

Use these suggestions to strengthen your weaknesses over the winter.

Every good off-season training program begins with the question, “Why do I run?” Often times, the answer to this question is not what you think it will be. Moreover, this answer should set you up nicely to embark on a good-old fashion goal setting session.

A runners’ off-season is not an incredibly long period of time and differs in length depending on your goal event. Nevertheless, there should be a 10-30 day period following a key race where you enjoy the fruits of your labor. The 10 tips you’ll find in the following pages provide a guideline to prepare yourself for success in your next training phase.

A season typically ends in one of three ways: 1) complete and utter burn out 2) a mediocre goal race 3) a huge personal best!

No matter the outcome, it is vital that you provide your body with some active recovery. If your goal race ended in a subpar performance, it can be tempting to put your nose to the grind, when in fact; your body may just need some rest. On the contrary, if you had the race of your life, you may be inclined to extend your season to squeeze out another personal best. If you peaked properly, enjoy it! The beauty of active rest is that when it comes time to start your base building phase, you don’t have to start from where you started last season.

In the following pages are 10 tips to ensure a restful, yet productive off-season that will enable you to say that you are fit and ready to go when it’s time ot start training again.

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FILED UNDER: Training TAGS: Goal Setting / performance nutrition / running injuries / strength training