How do you know if you are ready for speedwork? I am going to give you 5 tips to know whether you are ready to add speedwork.
Mindset
It is important that when you start speedwork that your self worth doesn't get tangled up with how fast you are running. There are going to be workouts where you are set to hit a certain pace and you are not going to be able to do it. That doesn't mean you should give up or that you aren't getting faster, it just means that that day you were not able to hit that pace.
If this is happening to you and it ruins you and you have a lot negative self talk, you need to go back to your why. Why are you running? Why are you pursuing becoming a faster athlete? Most likely its because you want to be proud of yourself. Running and working on running is meant to be a way to celebrate yourself!
Ready to take up space
Literally when you are working speedwork you are going to be speeding through space at a faster pace and you are going to be taking up space. It is important for you to be okay with that. You are going to need more food and more energy to build new muscle. Your body will change as you are doing more speed workouts and you need to be okay with how it is changing. You will build new muscles and it may not look how you think you should look as a runner but you know what, everyone's stronger body looks different and that is okay.
What has your training looked like?
Your base mileage is going to vary depending on what you are training for, training for a 5k will have different mileage than training for a marathon. If you are training for a longer race I would say comfortably being able to run or run/walk 20 to 25 miles a week is a good place to start adding in some more complex training.
Lifestyle
What are your rest days like? Are you taking rest days? Are you stretching? Foam rolling? Are you sleeping enough? Are you eating enough? If you are living a lifestyle where you are not giving yourself rest days and not taking time to take care of yourself, I would say it's not a good idea to start adding speedwork. Speedwork is a stressor on the body and if you are already stressed it is not going to go well. However if you are giving yourself rest and eating enough and sleeping well, you can definitely start adding in some speedwork.
Start slow
If all the other things are in place you can start adding in speedwork! However, don't try to do it all at once. There are ways to start small and work your way up to get ready for the race pace you are wanting to hit. If you try to do too much too soon you could get injured.
If you want some more tips then tune into our FREE podcast, Food Peace Please on Itunes or by clicking here.
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