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With the running racing season mostly wrapped up by now, this is the time of year when I start thinking about the winter season and what I want my training to look like.
For those of you who don’t know, my wife and I are expecting our first child soon. Due date is October 30th so we’re anxiously awaiting his arrival.
It’ll be our first child and the word on the street is that we won’t be getting a lot of sleep. And that it’ll be pretty life changing. I’m trying to prepare as best I can but of course I have no idea what’s going to happen.
So, with that in mind, here’s where my mind is going and what I’m planning for.
First, I’m anticipating not having a whole lot of TIME. So my workouts need to be efficient.
The two most efficient, complimentary things I can focus on are: running and lifting
Even a 10-minute run around the block counts.
Even a few sets of bodyweight or kettlebell work at home counts.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to happen.
I’m anticipating not having a whole lot of TIME, so I have to be efficient.
What I’m NOT planning on are long, drawn-out workouts. No two-hour long runs, no big weekend rides, no extra trips to the gym. The colder and darker it gets, the more I’ll rely on convenience and consistency to keep things moving forward.
The one, very important component, that I haven’t quite figured out yet is accountability.
Who am I going to workout with? Who am I going to be accountable to?
Over the training season this year (and still today), I find it massively helpful to have a workout partner. There were plenty of 5:30am mornings when I only showed up because someone was expecting me. That kind of partnership is powerful.
With a newborn on the way and workouts shifting closer to home, I know I’ll need a new way to stay accountable. Maybe that means getting a coach or maybe it’s something else entirely. I’m still tinkering with it.
Either way, my goal this winter is simple: stay consistent and double down on running and lifting. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s consistency. And if I can keep that rhythm through this next chapter, I’ll call it a win.
Your best is yet to come!
Valiant Physical Therapy
Evanston, Illinois
Physical therapy for Runners | Sports Rehab
