uring my 20 years as a runner
I’ve learned a lot about how
to improve and get fitter. Yet
I’ve learned more through my
mistakes and injuries. As a new runner, I
wrongly believed the only way to improve
was to do long runs as frequently as possible.
Eventually my body began to break down
and I had to cut back and mix up my training
to include other exercise and strength work.
Sometimes, less can be more.
Three years ago, I embarked on a
weight-loss plan and lost over a stone. At the
same time, I reduced my running mileage
and started doing more strength training.
I ran a maximum of twice a week. I began
training for The Rock n’ Roll Half-Marathon
in Las Vegas. The frequency of my running
sessions remained at twice a week and my
mileage wasn’t high. My longest run before
race day was six miles. The old, heavier me
would have covered at least 12 miles for mylongest run. I turned up on race day, not fully
recovered from jet lag and not expecting
much. Yet I had an extremely positive
experience. I knocked five minutes off my
half-marathon time and, as I ran, I felt like I
was floating.
I learned that you don’t have to change
everything in order to improve. These
other runners have also found their running
improved after making one or two minor
changes.46 MARCH 2017 womensrunninguk.co.uk
SMALL CHANGES
D
IMPROVING YOUR RUNNING ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT OVERHAULING
YOUR LIFE AND TRAINING. ONE OR TWO TWEAKS CAN ADD UP
AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. CHRISTINA MACDONALD EXPLAINS