Are Purchased Training Plans Failing Runners

A couple years ago I joined a virtual running conference and one of the discussions was, are training plans failing runners?

There are no end to free running plans or to purchase for a small fee. Some can be very successful, a runner can buy a plan and follow it well, and the results can be excellent!  This is true especially for a new runner where big gains are seen just from the consistency of having a plan. However a runner that’s been running a long time and is making very small gains may not benefit from a purchased running plan due to the lack of specifity to the individual.

In the discussion around whether purchased running plans are failing runners the first point was, what happens when an athlete falls behind schedule? Perhaps they get sick or injured, will they continue training or will they take the time off regroup and start again? If the runner takes time off due to illness where will they start up again in the plan?  How do they know where to start and at what intensity?

If an injury happens the same thing goes but another question arises why did they get injured? Was the training plan too advanced for the runners skill?  If so who monitors rest and recovery?

A second point discussed, what if a runner is doing better than the requirements of the plan? Could they be holding themselves back and limiting their skill?

Training is highly individual and we all respond to different aspects of training differently. Just because a training plan worked amazingly for your training buddy, does not mean it will work just as well for you.

Following a plan that isn’t specifically designed for you, with continual adjustments specifically for you, can lead to injury, over-training, under-training which all equals lack of progress.

My suggestion, if you're preparing for a race(s), is to first make sure you have a plan rather than approach it haphazardly. Second, make sure the plan is your plan and is set up by a coach that understands you and can guide you to your best performance.

Training requires continual adjustments, both in terms of the training stresses and recovery. Athletes need different amounts of volume and intensity. One athlete may be able to max out marathon mileage at 22 miles, where another may need to max out at 18 miles.

Individualizing your training as a runner is important. This is why typical one-size-fits-all training plans don't work well for most. With that being said, if you choose a running plan its super great if the coach will help you along the way but if that isn’t possible then here are a few ways to get started:

Evaluate how you respond to day-to-day training and your overall load for the week. There is no perfect amount that fits everyone! Some respond better to higher mileage, some to lower mileage.

👣 Think about your past training (this is one reason a training journal is so helpful). Here are some questions to consider: Compared to your peers, do you feel more miles suits you? Do you feel like "chasing miles" is really not working for you? Have you noticed that you have to be very careful about mileage because injuries seem to always be looming? Do you perform best when keeping a consistent amount of load? Do you do better if you cycle training load up and down? How many running days a week, or running days in a row, work best for you?

👣 Some considerations like experience, years of running, current age, life stresses all can factor into how much you can handle at any given time. We have to be careful to listen to our bodies over time - always seeking that "sweet spot."

👣 Over time you'll get to know your "running" self even better. Just make sure to pay attention to your history, what you feel is most enjoyable, what you think helps you perform better (or worse) and you'll get it dialed in.

Part of why I write these articles is to help people find good, solid information so they can train themselves with some knowledge.  It actually can be difficult to find helpful training tips, with social media sources in abundance and not all of those sources having information that is accurate, knowledgeable or even scientific. 

The following guidelines may help as you are looking for training information:

✅ Remember that just because something is popular or commonly thought does not make it true, healthy or safe. Unfortunately the industry of endurance sports and sports nutrition is full of myths, and aggressive marketing, and even as new research begins to shed light, old thought processes die hard.

✅ Pay attention to your own gut feeling and use logic. If something doesn't make sense to you, that's a big red flag.

✅ When seeking advice, consider the source first. Peer-reviewed research and papers are helpful. Everyone in our endurance world loves to give advice, but weigh out whether that person is just expressing their own opinion based on only their own experience.

✅ It never hurts to have a well-educated advisor that you trust.

✅ Develop your own filters through which you run information and advice. One filter can be your own gut feeling (like mentioned above). It could be a coach you know or a business that has reputable advice.

It can be hard to know for sure if something is true or false, helpful or harmful, but there's a lot we can do to be proactive in the process!

I hope you find this helpful and happy training!