SMALL CHANGE BIG RESULT

IMPROVING YOUR RUNNING ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT OVERHAULING YOUR LIFE AND TRAINING . ONE OR TWO TWEAKS CAN ADD UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE . CHRISTINA MACDONALD EXPLAINS

SMALL CHANGE BIG RESULT

IMPROVING YOUR RUNNING ISN’T ALWAYS ABOUT OVERHAULING YOUR LIFE AND TRAINING . ONE OR TWO TWEAKS CAN ADD UP AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE . CHRISTINA MACDONALD EXPLAINS

CHRISTINA MACDONALD

During my 20 years as a runner I’ve learned a lot about how to improve and get fitter. Yet I’ve learned more through my mistakes and injuries. As a new runner, I wrongly believed the only way to improve was to do long runs as frequently as possible. Eventually my body began to break down and I had to cut back and mix up my training to include other exercise and strength work. Sometimes, less can be more.

Three years ago, I embarked on a weight-loss plan and lost over a stone. At the same time, I reduced my running mileage and started doing more strength training. I ran a maximum of twice a week. I began training for The Rock n’ Roll Half-Marathon in Las Vegas. The frequency of my running sessions remained at twice a week and my mileage wasn’t high. My longest run before race day was six miles. The old, heavier me would have covered at least 12 miles for my longest run. I turned up on race day, not fully recovered from jet lag and not expecting much. Yet I had an extremely positive experience. I knocked five minutes off my half-marathon time and, as I ran, I felt like I was floating.