Coach's Corner: Training vs. Jogging

There are basically two kinds of runners: trainers and joggers (really I only consider trainers to be real runners). Runners are trying to make themselves better at running, and joggers are just out for fitness.

The workouts I'm giving you are designed to make you better runners. Obviously, increased fitness is a natural byproduct of becoming faster.

The trick to training successfully is to run as hard as possible without getting injured. Whenever you are running at your best, you are always just a sliver away from being injured. There's a thin line between training and overtraining or burning out. The goal is to come as close to that line as possible.

As I mentioned in the comments of Lisie Rae's post, often it is just a matter of faith. You have to know the difference between being burned out and just having a bad workout. You have to be able to put up with slower times while you're in a base building period. Basically, during training you have to believe that you're better than what you've shown up to that point. You have to enjoy the good times and maintain confidence in yourself through times of adversity.

You also have to be smart and know your own body. There are so many variables that go into a performance that in the end it really does just come down to trusting in your abilities and doing the best you can. Sometimes you win; sometimes you lose.

Just jogging demands an incredible amount of energy as it is. Running and running well is a physical, mental, and emotional drain pipe. But the thrill of a PR makes it all worth it. So does winning. In all my life I've never found anything more satisfying than crossing a finish line in first place.