Hey all - despite the pandemic I have a 10k race scheduled for this weekend in which I'm hoping to PR.
Beyond this I can't see any races happening where I live until next year! I wanted to focus and build towards a marathon. The last 20+ weeks I've logged weeks consistently between 70 and 80 miles a weeks with two sessions and a long run. How best could I progress long term without risking burnout or boredom, without a race in sight to target??
What state do you live in? Pick 3 goal races that might happen around the same time, located in places you can get to but not close to each other. A larger A race, a small-to-medium B race, and a tiny C race. That raises your chances of being able to register for (and run) one real race. I probably wouldn't pick anything larger than several hundred runners even for the "large" race.
You basically have two options. Generally, after around 24 weeks of training (which you seem to be nearing) you should be at your peak, and this is when you should be racing and then taking time off. If you can't race officially, go out and do some solo time trials for the distances you planned on racing, and then take your time off. Taking time off will instantly solve your burnout/boredom problems, and will keep you in a consistent cycle so you don't have a shortened build-up in the future.
Yep, it sounds like you're due for some down time after the 10k. Maybe take a week off & another week of easy running every other day just to recharge. It can't hurt with nothing immediate on the calendar.
Do you train specifically when you know there are races or do you train by season? Marathoners will do one fall marathon or one spring marathon. Some years it might be a half marathon goal one season instead of two marathons. A lot of younger runners do cross in the fall, indoors in the winter, and outdoors in the spring. What are your goals for the sports?
You don't have to answer those questions here but, even if races don't exist, you can train as if they were as a part of your long term plan. Say you wanted to run a spring half and a fall marathon. Well build as if those things are happening. Pick out a weekend in May and in October for when you think peaks would be. Build the mileage and sessions towards those goals. Find a race or put a time trial on the calendar when we know more about racing.
Thanks everyone, all good ideas that chime with everything I thought. I'm getting quite jaded with training mentally, especially with so few races on the horizon and you're right that hopefully some downtime will recover the motivation at least. I'm anxious not to lose form since I've been running and training for nearly 20 years and at age 35 know it's likely I won't be in a position to run PRs at distances like 10k again! I'm in the UK, and the pandemic situation has really taken a turn for the worse the last few weeks, most big races in Europe cancelling way in advance!
I'm in The Netherlands and I'm basically in the same situation as you're in in the UK. With the rising coronavirus numbers I decided to do a short taper and do a time trial last weekend.
I'm taking a week off right now and am hoping to rebuild to peak at races in march and early April. I think that might be your best bet as well. Good luck!
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