5 “Tough” Runner Practices Actually Making You Weak

These may seem like they're toughening you up or making you a stronger and faster runner, but it's actually going to hurt you as a runner over time. It's the ego-check and smart decisions (along with a lot of hard work and patience) that will get you where you want to go in your running.
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[@sjb1971]

I love the idea of a good night's sleep-it just doesn't apparently like me! lol. To me, going to bed at night is really just a series of naps-I wake up multiple times, no matter what I do.

[@runningwithjane]

Hi Shannon! Ugh, I hear you loud and clear. This is also my cross to bear! 2021-through last year I struggled with sleep a lot. I'm training less this year and sleep much better so for me personally, I'm wondering if it was an indicator of overtraining. I know there are lots of reasons though and I hope you can get a handle on it. Not being able to sleep well really is so frustrating!

[@dimitar297]

Because you're probably not sufficiently tired when you go to bed.

[@geoffclarke3796]

Some sound advice there. I made the mistake of trying to run through Achilles Tendonitis a few years back and ended up having to take quite a long time off running. This has flared up a couple of times since but both times I stopped running, did some rehab exercises and didn't have to take too much time off running. Sleep very important too, especially now as I'm 52.

[@TwoHappyChildrenFarm]

#6 would be trying to train up too quickly. My meaning is I'm pretty happy to have trained and finished my first marathon in 26 years. So I have a good aerobic base to work from. I'm in a speed training 12 week block designed for runners who have mileage like mine, about 100 miles/month as a base. Every now and then one of the training sessions get's a little too ridiculous (like the 12x200m at sprint speed) and I think it's combined with my age and the base miles I have just aren't ready for that intensity. After this block I'll go back to base training work so that I can either take on another speed block or be ready to go into a marathon training block. Getting to 120 miles/month will be in the next year timeframe.

[@runningwithjane]

Yes, that's a good one. It easy to get caught up trying to do what mileage someone else is doing even when you know you're not ready. Sounds like you are doing great staying your own course! All about the gains little by little and you WILL get stronger!

[@TheSandkastenverbot]

The stupidest widespread thing I can think of is when people think getting up extra early is somehow good for them.

[@runningwithjane]

This is pervasive in our society though...early bird catches the worm. But if you go to bed late and that means 5 hours of sleep, makes absolutely no sense.

[@50Something]

I'm training for my second marathon but the year started off bad for me with hamstring injuries. Some runs are good, some hurt and it's difficult to know when to pull back. My PT have me a beginner's marathon plan to ease back into training and while it's going well, the discomfort is still there at lower levels. It's difficult to know when to pull back 🤷

[@runningwithjane]

But you're under a care of a PT, so you're doing the right thing! In many situations you're not doing any more damage by continuing running...it just might need to look different so you can heal at that same time. But obviously you can't know that until you get diagnosed, which you did. I know hamstring injuries can be tough and I'm sorry to hear you're going through that.

[@50Something]

@@runningwithjane thank you Jane 🙏

[@mattpeters6224]

Nordics, Nordics and perhaps Nordics. Quad dominate athlete equates to hamstring problems. Knees over Toes Guy has great information on this.

[@50Something]

@@mattpeters6224 I just subscribed to his channel. Thanks 👍

[@wvu05]

Carbohydrates are your friends. Any diet that tells you that bacon is good for you and oatmeal is bad is nuts.

[@runningwithjane]

💯One of those things that makes us ask ourselves..."How did we get here?!"

[@ABucc]

During my training for the NYC Marathon, I ate over 900 grams of carbs for three days leading up to it. I was so scared of it leading to diabetes.

[@wvu05]

@@runningwithjane Indeed. For all this talk about keto and Atkins before it, I've averaged about 55-60% of my calories from carbohydrates since New Year's, and I've lost 33 pounds, so it clearly hasn't hurt me any at all.

[@wvu05]

@@ABucc Well, in fairness, in those few hours in NYC, that alone probably burned through about 500g of it ;-)

[@runningwithjane]

@@ABucc what I tell my athletes (the fear of carbs is real sadly!) is that downing a bunch of sugar/carbs before or during a run is completely different than eating the equivalent sitting watching a movie at the theater. When you run, your body is immediately using it for energy.

[@johannab3668]

I'll be honest, I don't hydrate nearly enough... Because I hate to stop for pees! For my next runs I'll try a hydration vest and maybe there is a pocket for my p-style in it 😂 But honestly, a lack of public bathrooms where I live and apparently a bladder the size of a pea make this a real challenge for me!

[@runningwithjane]

Oh this is so real and I didn't even think of that. Not all of us strategizing our route based on where the bathrooms are haha!! I'd recommend really focusing hydrating well the day before and then small but more frequent sips during vs. lots of big gulps all at once.

[@SlingsAxes]

I'm a cyclist, not a runner. But all of these principles apply to cycling. I really wish I'd have known all these things starting out.

[@runningwithjane]

For sure is applicable to all endurance athletes!! Thanks for popping into the channel even though you're not a runner. Maybe someday??! I agree I wish I knew these sooner, but I guess wisdom comes with time.

[@Wings_nut]

The term "Listen to your body." cannot be understated. Too often, through ITBS and PF, I ignored what my body was telling me, and it ended up hurting me in the long run. So, with the help of a PT, and a gait analysis, I have since been injury-free (knock on wood).

[@runningwithjane]

If I had a nickel for every time I ignored LOL...like it will just miraculously go away... Agree having a PT in my corner has been so helpful!

[@Wings_nut]

@@runningwithjane 👍

[@hikerJohn]

I agree with all of this advice, but . . . At 1:40 Every time I "go see someone to get better" I get next to no advice and often not even a proper diagnoses and I'm limited to who I can see with my insurance. When I injured my foot jumping rope I eventually went to urgent care after it hurting for over a month and the doctor did not even think I needed an xray or to see a proper podiatrist but I insisted and when I did see the podiatrist she said I needed an xray. Makes me want to pull my hair out. I'm finally (after 4 months) back to doing 10 miles with no pain in the metatarsal area but I still have not tried 10 miles two days in a row or a 20 miler. I just wish I knew a good sports podiatrist but I'm not sure it would have healed any faster if I had seen one sooner. I still do not know what exactly happened to my foot. I can can now run up some hills as fast as I can for a full hour and that does not hurt at all but I think 20 miles would. I'll give it another week or two before I try a 20 mile hike. So far in the last 5 years I've had just about every injury there is and Ive recovered from them all. I never keep training with injuries until they heal to a point that they don't feel worse the next day. I feel like hitting the trail right now but I'm limiting myself to one hard session and two or three easy ones per week for a while. I just watched the interview of Parker Valby after breaking the NCAA 10K record and she said that all she will do the next day is sleep as much as she can because in a week she will be going after the 5K record.

[@runningwithjane]

I agree that it can be really tough when at the mercy of your insurance. My experience was: go to podiatrist, has no more than 15 min for me and is convinced it's a stress fracture so wants me to get an MRI that will cost $500. Mind you I had run 18 miles that morning, the pain was not getting any worse...I was 99% sure it was not a stress fracture. Went to my trusted PT and he started fixing me right away by giving me rehab exercises to do daily. But I pay to go to him completely out of pocket. I understand not everyone has that luxury. Sounds like you don't try to push through when you shouldn't and are doing your best! Glad you're still able to get out there and do what you love even if it's adjusted.

[@MichaelDetwiler]

Urgent Care is the fast food of medical care. You went to the wrong place.

[@lowzyyy]

I am guilty of skipping water lol. Thought i am badass if i dont drink on long runs. Now 1 year later i see how big fool i was

[@runningwithjane]

Glad you are hydrating well now! It's ok, we live we learn! That's what life and improving is about.

[@LayneBracy1]

Thanks, Jane. This is a silly issue, but my running journey was started a few years ago when I got an Apple Watch. Earning the badges and awards was really motivating. However, after a couple years I just had to 'let it go'. Meaning, I stopped trying to earn every award because I knew that doing extra exercise and mileage was getting in the way of proper recovery.

[@runningwithjane]

Yep, I get this!! It's not that silly...I think a lot of people do the same! Garmin has the badges, too, and there are always contests on Strava, too. So hard to stay in your own lane sometimes.

[@kingtrumpet123]

I always love seeing a video from you. Somehow, no matter where I am in life, I am reminded of something (like hydration) and not getting enough sleep that are hindering my exercise goals. Thank you always Coach Jane for putting up these videos, have an awesomeness weekend.

[@runningwithjane]

Thank you for that!! We can all use reminders (over and over and over)!! I hope you have a great weekend, too, Ken!

[@Hillrunner50]

I’m a 30+ year mountain runner, and the one thing that stands out for me and I’ve seen it too many times is running streaks. Every single time without exception people whom I’ve known that do a streak get injured. I caution runners about becoming too obsessive about any aspect of training and to make sure they are complimenting their running with other activities, especially weight lifting, and to forget about streaks. Being consistent does not equate to doing a streak.

[@dimitar297]

Make sure to continue your streak when you take a break it signals to your body that any covid-19 infection can manifest.

[@Hillrunner50]

@@dimitar297 what? lol

[@mjdutsar]

Endurance athletes think suffering is fun! Also, underfueling is a vital part of marathon training. obviously dont bonk all your runs, but you need to learn how to keep moving in a glycogen depleted state.

[@runningwithjane]

Definitely need suffering: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3nFZ6mlmpyLbassi=3mI5j2VkcE4J2RTz But there is smart suffering and dumb suffering. I disagree on removing fuel for *most* people.

[@jameswerner9650]

Fuel!!! Keto is for couch potatoes

[@runningwithjane]

Haha, it’s certainly not for endurance athletes!!

[@WorldT]

sleep is precious element, I ran the ottawa marathon back on may 26 and still have not fully recovered, looked at my Garmin stats and realized I was on a disturbed sleep pattern, starting to fix now. hopefully I. be ready for grandmas marathon in 2 weeks.

[@runningwithjane]

That's really normal to have disrupted sleep after a big event like the marathon...it takes awhile for the body to recover. Make sure you're fueling enough and not overtraining...and nap if you can! Glad you're getting a handle on it!

[@hikerJohn]

Keeping Up With The Fast Group . . . I wish LOL . . . No one knows me on Strava that I know of even though I'm the "local legend" on a few sections of one of the most popular trails in Southern Calif. but I lost the local legend on one section due to my foot injury. I only know one ultra marathon gal that is there more than I am (in the morning anyway)

[@runningwithjane]

This could be looked at in a lot of ways honestly...even trying to keep up with younger self. But not everything applies to everyone obviously.

[@hikerJohn]

@@runningwithjane So true.

[@Notsponsoredbycheezits]

This is great content! My mind always go to the “eat less carbs”, go on a streak, push when I don’t feel well and need to sleep in… I’m here for being tough without active tough.

[@runningwithjane]

It's so hard to get to the point of realization that rest, fueling, etc. (alongside the hard work) really does make us stronger. I have friends who run very early and I feel like a slacker when I tell them I'm not going to go for a 5/5:30 am run, but as someone who goes to bed consistently btwn 10-10:30, I have to remind myself that extra hour of sleep is necessary. Happy to meet them on the 6:30+ days LOL.

[@Notsponsoredbycheezits]

@@runningwithjane that’s another great point - it’s all relative. Some days I have much better runs in the afternoon or evening when I’m properly fueled, rested, and can take a mental break from work and the day. While morning runs are absolutely amazing, you’re not any less of an athlete if you adjust your workouts depending on your life and schedule. It doesn’t mean that the workout isn’t as effective if you do what works for you, your body, your recovery.

[@blitzenJunior]

Good video! I Agree!

[@runningwithjane]

Thank you for watching!