Running Slow to Run Fast

I used to always aim to run each run faster than the run before. I would barely have easy run days; my sessions would be at 95-100% and all of my other runs in the week used to be at a threshold pace (not that I knew what this meant at the time). I spent so much time injured and couldn’t understand why when I wasn’t running high mileage.

Trying to run fast every time also impacted me mentally when I couldn’t do the run as fast as I had last time – which can maybe be understandable in race conditions, but not on any random run!

I’ve recently realised that slowing down my runs, doesn’t make me slow… It actually helps to keep my legs fresher for when I need to run faster in sessions. I now average around 50 miles per week with most of that mileage being at a steady/easy pace.

Within the current COVID-19 situation and the non-existence of running club sessions, I’ve found that the easy runs are the ones I’m enjoying most. It is my time to switch off, put on an audiobook or podcast and just get some fresh air. I also find it hard to motivate myself to perform in sessions to the same level I can when I’m running with others.