Lumpy’s Guide to Not Training for a Race – Three Quick and Easy Steps:
- Don’t Run (aka Don’t Do Primary Activity Training): Yeah, see, you have to actually do your primary training in the activity which constitutes the race. So, if you are participating in a running race, you need to run. Let me say that again: if you are training for a running race You Need To Run. You need to do it a lot. Train, Train, Train. Run, Run, Run. A lot, A lot, A lot. If you fail to train in your primary race activity, you will fail.
- Do Surrogate Training: You don’t train to compete in a 500 meter freestyle relay by playing basketball. You don’t expect your 8 mile bicycle commute home from work (3-5 times a week) to prepare you for a half marathon. Sure, these surrogate activities will help your overall fitness. And will help to keep you from turning into a lump of quivering inactivity while watching The Biggest Loser. And Cross-Training is GOOD!!! However, they will not train you to effectively compete in or complete a race in another activity. Unless you’re routinely doing a stage of the Tour de France in the Pyrenees, it ain’t ganna help ya run a race. See Step 1 above.
- Don’t Have A Training Plan: Having a plan is the surest way to effective training for a race. Have One. Don’t have one if you want to not train for a race. A plan keeps you organized. It let’s you know what to expect three days from now. It takes into account all of the inconsistencies of life, so if you miss a couple of runs (if that is what you are training for) the plan accounts for this. It is expected. And then you can adjust the plan to make-up for any inconsistencies. A plan keeps you honest. You have to acknowledge when you’ve deviated from the plan. You can’t ignore it.
Lumpy is guilty as charged. The Big Woods Half is up in the air for Lumpy. That’s the result of being a master at how not to train for a race.
