We all know that if you want to accomplish something in life, you have to set goals to get there. Running is no different. Whether your goal is: to finish the Run for Hungry Children 5k, to run a fast time, or if this race is a step along a journey to run a longer race such as a half marathon or a marathon, setting goals gives you benchmarks to reach along the journey.

I am going to highlight two helpful tips that I have picked up since I started running that are essential to accomplishing running goals: have a plan and keep a log. Today I will cover the plan. Next time I will cover the log.

Have a plan – Decide at least two weeks in advance what your training schedule will look like. By training schedule I mean: what days you will run, how far you will run on those days, what your pace will be or the ratio of walking to running you will do, and what time of day you plan to run. Your average training pace and distance should not make you sore for days. By gradually building the number of days per week you run (and/or walk) and distance you cover on those days, you will see improvement.

Having a plan also helps you to keep yourself accountable. Without a plan it is easy to get to the end of the day and say, “Oh well, I wasn’t able to run today. I will do it tomorrow.” Then the same thing happens and 1 day becomes 2 becomes 3, and a week later you realize that you have lost significant training time.

Putting in the miles is the most important part of distance running for beginners and elites alike. You need to put in the miles to see the results. Speed is great, but if you haven’t trained yourself to handle the distance, that speed is worthless. When you plan your run, plan it at a time of day that fits into your schedule. Soon it should become part of your schedule. If you keep it up, your day will not feel complete without getting in your workout.

Where do you keep your daily or weekly schedule? Phone, computer, planner, calendar, or the old fashioned palm pilot (Sarah Palin style)? Post has no comments.