I was chucking to myself while reading the Running Times Facebook page the other day. They’d posted an article along the lines of “how to maintain your fitness during the winter off-season” and were getting some good-natured feedback: “winter isn’t my off-season!” “what off-season?!” and so on.
I was laughing, because I was having the same reaction in my head. Well, not the “what off-season?!” one, but the one about a winter on-season being odd. Winter is (one of) my on-season(s).
I guess I should explain what on and off-season are to me. On-season is when I am running a pretty high mileage (again, for me), typically, in preparation for an upcoming “goal” race. I put goal in quotes, because I don’t use it in the sense of a goal just being a means to an end – crossing the finish line. “Goal” for me is typically a certain pace at a race, which is something I very seldom train to do. I mostly race for fun. During the on and off-season, but especially in the off-season.
I don’t live somewhere where the weather warrants a winter off-season. I live in the midwest. We have winter. It seems the majority of runners here do take winter as their off-season.
However, I love running in the cold. If I am doing a “goal” race, I want low temperatures. Cold and dark make me want to go run. Sun and heat, not so much!
This five-year mileage chart visually shows my on and off-seasons. There are a few anomalies**, but more or less, my running mileage goes down in the summer, and back up when the temperature drops again.
*December 2014 not included
**Three stress fractures in June 2010, high mileage in October 2013 because of furlough, recovering from the flu in January 2014, etc.
I predict 2015 will be more of the same! I have “goal” races in February, March and May (as well as “for fun” races January -April), and nothing “goal”-wise planned for the rest of year. I am very cyclical – I typically pick a few “goal” cold weather races for the winter, take it easy during the summer, then maybe pick some things for the fall, then do it again, the next year!
How do you define on and off-season? When are yours?
Winter is the ON season for me! I live in the south. We can’t wait for winter running. Summer should be my OFF but I ran right through it this year.
So was that YOU leaving the “what off-season?!” comment? Hee hee, just kidding 🙂
I think it’s interesting to talk to people who live in different climates and hear when the majority of their races are! Are most of them in your area around the winter?
Um, yep that was probably me. 😉 Yes, winter is prime time. There are so many from now through March, I just can’t make up my mind!
MUST DO ALL THE RACES!!!! 🙂
I don’t have an off season. My highest running mileage is usually in the winter when I am marathon training. In the summer I do more triathlon training and biking, but still run.
So would you define off-season as being completely off from any event? Do you feel like you put the same intensity toward those events all year round?
At most I may have an off week or two after a race/event, but I feel like I pretty much train with the same intensity through the whole year. But, it was the burn out from doing that for just running that spurred me to branch out into other types of events. I like to be always working towards something.
I would say winter is my off season, mainly because there aren’t a lot of events to train for during the early spring around here. I do try to stay in half shape, though, so I’m never completely off. I do like to use the treadmill in winter for speed work, just shorter distances, but my biggest buildup/effort is usually in the summer and early fall.
I was thinking yesterday how I always want to be in half shape too. Halves are so fun to just jump in and run! 🙂
You and I are on the exact same page!
Woot woot! 🙂
Winter is partially the off season for me this year! I have a March half but I’ve got to get these legs to chill!!!!
Are you doing Cary?! 🙂
I don’t really have an off season either but what I am focusing on however may change from season to season depending on my goals. Like you, I live in a state that has Winter (oh polar vortex I loathe you)so with the exception of last year when I was training for Boston, I tend to do more of my running indoors when their is snow and ice on the ground and focus more on cross training. The Spring and Fall are my favorite times to train outdoors for running.
Don’t say the evil PV words! Ha ha ha. It was hard to be a winter runner during that, last year! And it’s smart to bring it in when there’s so much snow you are getting no where and the ice is dangerous. I hope it’s not as bad this year! Are you doing Boston again?
Spring is my ‘off season’ …
… it is when I can peel OFF all of those layers I wore for running outside all winter! haha 🙂
Buah ha ha!!!!
I LOVE your tattoo 🙂 I liked that you picked something that resonated with you even after a year, that’s a good way to go. Off season for me would be summer for sure. I struggle in humidity and VA is pretty bad from June to Sept. for me. I will probably never be able to do more than a half in Nov. for that reason. March seem like a perfect time to try for a marathon because i can train cold 🙂
Thank you! 😀
Oh gosh. Yes. Humidity, I hate it! And there is just so much chance to whether it will linger. I remember I still had a few humid runs in October, and I was just like “really?!?”
I like March for a marathon, too! I just found a local-ish one in March, yesterday, and was so tempted. Ha!
From what I’ve seen out here in AZ, most races are held when the weather is nice. So in order to prepare for that you have to run during the tough parts of the year leading up to the race.
What’s “nice” in AZ, though? I read another blogger out there and he says it’s horrible in the summer… so are the races the rest of the year? But yeah, training in the tough parts is always good for you! I just can’t race in it. Blah.
While I don’t have any reason for an off-season in terms of weather here in SoCal, I’ve definitely scaled back every year after a “big” race. A lot of it has to do with returning to school in September and back to that schedule. I definitely plan “A” races early and then use the rest of the year (seriously, 6 months this year) to maintain fitness and enjoy the activities.
I am very impressed with people that can continuously train – I get serious burn out and love having a break. I think that I return with more of a focus.
Ahh, I love hearing your perspective on this, because that is a very good reason to start your “off-season,” and, it seems to work excellently for you! 🙂
I love that chart! I’d say whenever I am not training for a particular race is my off-season. Plus, I also really love barre classes so when I start amping those up, I suppose I know:)
How many barre classes do you like to take a week during the “off-season”? 🙂
Yeah, I think that would be my on/off season trend too…if I lived somewhere with seasons. Though this year, it has been a rainy fall/winter, so maybe this is my off-season. Actually, I haven’t been running enough to make a clear distinction. I guess my last two years have been an off-season. 😀
Ha ha ha! You know, nothing wrong with that 😉 And good point about the seasons… you need something else to help you determine it, if the seasons don’t exist! I thought it was interesting that one commenter was a teacher and that determines hers!