I’ve always considered myself a consistent runner because I generally work out the same amount of days per week (5-6), run the same amount of mileage (between 35-40 miles) and run all year round. Consistent, right?
No.
Ha.
So I am reading Meb’s new book 26 Marathons and in one chapter he talks about how consistent his marathon finishing times are for a few races. Like, within a ten second range. It’s hella consistent. It’s hella impressive.
Then he says:
If you race frequently, at any level, you should be able to be just as consistent. If you put in the work and stay healthy, you’re the same person from one race to the next. Sure, there will be variations because of weather or tough courses or an off day. But overall, in running and life, most of your performances should be in the thick part of the bell curve.
Oh Meb, you shame me. And point out what is not true about my “consistency.” I am NOT the same person, weight-wise, from race to race, so my race (and training!) paces are all over the damn place depending on year and month.
Reading this didn’t make me feel bad. But it did encourage me to keep working on my poor eating habits to get closer to being someone whose weight doesn’t fluctuate so damn much!!! Thanks, Meb!
(Also, I think us mortal marathoners would be super annoyed if all our marathon completion times were in a ten second range! We don’t typically want that kind of range in the marathon – we want improvement (faster times). Or at least I do, with that distance. And hey! Come to think of it, when I met Meb, and Gina told him about my 25 minute PR at the Dallas marathon, he thought that was pretty cool and even wrote a P.S. congrats for it on my bib!)
(He later (in the book) talks about consistency the way I was thinking about it – saying how consistency, not isolated killer workouts, are the key to peak performance, and that you should gradually get stronger and progress your fitness, not cram it in.)
The kittens turn 11 months old today! They are celebrating by running around the house acting nutso.
(All weekend, I was saying they are turning 10 months old today. Then I remembered it’s April, not March. Oops.)
Apollo just looks guilty.
Always.
I was thinking the same thing!
He is constantly up to no good 😉
My race times are never consistent but like you, I’m consistent with the amount of running and workouts I do, so we’re golden, right? 😉
I think so! I am just grateful to be able to move AT ALL! Especially with all the yo-yoing I do!
Love the advice from Meb. Yes, one can cram in some high mileage weeks before a race and perhaps flirt with a PR, but that usually leaves one exhausted and/or injured and having to sit out x number of weeks/months thereafter. Better to be consistent with moderate mileage week-over-week and build fitness that way. It also helps in staying fresh and injury-free. Running and fitness goals are better looked at from the perspective of a year or two span rather than a month or two! Over the last few years I’ve able to keep my weight in a relatively tight range (+/- 3 lbs). I know what puts the weight on for me (carbs, sugar), so I try and avoid those things as much as possible, especially before a race (although it’s not always easy)! 🙂
He’s full of great advice! This book is so interesting because it give insight on all the injuries and set backs he had and how he still made his training as consistent as he could! Do you think you will read it?
That is so fantastic for staying in that range! Good for you!!!
Just put it in my amazon shopping cart and once it arrives I’ll read it on the train to and from work. Thanks for the recommendation!
Awesome! You’re welcome! Let me know what you think!
I assume the kitties may celebrate every day by acting nutso 🙂 They’re cute though! And how cool that you have that bib signed by Meb. I agree, I think it’s hard for most of us to be that consistent because we’re not the same people race to race, year to year. Weight, nutrition, health, allergies, weather, etc. And there are times that I definitely just want to run for fun, or with people, or to enjoy the views and take photos so I’m not really trying for time in every race either.
They do, they do! Hee hee.
That bib is a prized possession! I have it in a memory frame at my desk 🙂 Yeah, good point that it’s hard to be the same person all the time when it’s not our job! I bet he would understand us running for fun/not time… or maybe not! It’s not like elites get to do that until they retire!
Huh. This made me really curious about my own race times, so I went through them and found that I *am* pretty consistent at the 5K(I’ve done 24 5Ks, and 16 of my finish times are within a minute of each other. That’s not 10 seconds, I suppose, but it feels consistent enough for me, haha)…but then you have the half marathon and marathon, where my times are ALL over the board. I was reflecting on it, and I realized that I almost always go out to race a 5K – of those 24, I can only think of three where I intentionally took it easy. On the flip side, I barely ever race a half marathon, and I most certainly have never raced a marathon. I’m just trying to survive it, haha. I wonder if that plays a part that maybe he’s not considering: that your effort level could determine your consistency. Like, yes, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Nashville Half Marathon (my personal worst: 2:40:53) and the Chi Town Half this past weekend (my personal best: 1:57:27) could NOT have been more different: Nashville was hot, humid, sunny, and hilly. Chi Town was cold, overcast and flat. But I wasn’t trying in Nashville, either (other than, once again, trying to survive). I would think at an elite level, there really isn’t a whole lot of going out and doing races for fun, so yeah, you could expect a lot more consistency than if you ARE doing races for fun rather than time.
That is impressive that your 5K times are so close! And yes, part of the reason ours vary so much is that we are just doing some for fun or experience! I wonder if his times will be more all over the place now that he is retired?! P.S. I am so glad you had good weather for your PR! I was thinking about you and hoping it wouldn’t be hot or sunny!
So one more month and you can throw them a huge party for their first birthday!
As far as consistency, yes – I wish I could be more consistent in so many areas of life!
Yes! How should we celebrate?!
It’s a hard skill to master, right?
I imagine it’s much easier to be consistent when you are sponsored and paid to run! But I still get what he is saying. Maybe I’m just hyper-defensive right now because my own running has been nearly non-existent lately, but I’m working on it!
Oh totally! Wouldn’t that be the life?! Keep working at it; you’ll build back up to consistency!
I have been pretty consistent running and working out this winter for the first time in years. So I’m seeing dramatic improvement in race times. My three races this year so far were a 3.5 mile, a 4 mile, and a 5 mile. Even though each race was longer distance my pace improved. I am glad I discovered your blog; it’s motivating.
That is great! Good for you! That is impressive you got faster even though the distances were longer 🙂
Aww, thanks! 🙂
I just realized that the kittens and Lila are close in age! Her birthday is May 8. 🙂 Eloise… not sure when her birthday is, but the vet told me in January that she was about 9 months then so I’m giving her an April birthday.
Ooo! That is awesome!!!! What day did you pick in April for Eloise? The vet says Khaleesi’s birthday is April 26! I guess you should pick April 24? LOL!
I do think consistency is really the secret to a lot of fitness-related things (especially over something as fleeting at motivation), but it really sounds like Meb has a different…er, approach? attitude towards it than many recreational runners.
I had a Lyft driver the other day from Eritrea, and I mentioned that there are some famous distance runners from there. And he was like “Oh yeah, Mebrahtom Keflezighi! Everyone knows about him!”
I think he does, since he’s elite! Us mere mortals just need to stick with it, right?
That’s cool!!!! I was trying to remember what his full first name is the other day!