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Making the Best of Time-in-Between

The things we do, become the things we are. For nothing but conviction and force of habit—I became a runner.

What makes a good runner is commitment. There is no exception. At every level in the sport, from first 50k to cracking 20 hours at UTMB, the probability of success multiplies by devotion.

It comes in the form of training and lifestyle and over time raises preparedness. Because no single run is enough to deliver lasting improvement, we have to return, again and again to the craft, which leaves us in a year-long, decade-long game of development.

Bringing us to off-season. I believe this block presents the most opportunity for gains. Here we have the advantage of time to accumulate work. We can benefit from a process uninterrupted by races and focus on the simple business of output.

Evaluation

Where we are at the end of the season varies. The 2022 Grand Raid Reunion wrecked me. I was not myself for a month. November, December were messy.

This year I feel good, even fresh. Sure, fitness is currency and should be thrown at races, but I am not a frivolous spender, so will keep building my savings. That’s not to say I don’t feel a tinge guilty for not being battle-worn, but so goes the underlying masochism of our sport.

Deciding where to go from here, how hard, how much depends on where the body is, so I understand why many athletes take 2-3 weeks off this time of year if needed. But when health rolls back round, it’s time to stack wood.

The following outlines my plan for winter and is not intended as general training advice though I hope it helps in your own practice.

Slash and Substitute

Speed is an expensive adaptation to maintain and I am not interested in running a marathon this winter, so I will burry it away for a couple months.

To fill that void I do strength work. For now I am breaking my body into strength exercises by keeping things light and aerobic and will increase the load over time.

Have you seen what a diet of pure running does to the body? I could barely do 10 push-ups the other day. The body sacrifices a lot at the expense of running and this is the time to address deficiencies.

This year, I logged 5400km of running miles. After so many days waking up with a number in my head, I will basically remove all pressure to hit running volume.

To substitute the running I employ the bike and skis. I am looking to slightly increase training hours, but allow 50% or more to come from modalities outside running. Both bike and ski are skill sports, so this is also a good chance to up my level because the better you get, the more fun.

Perennial Favorites

It should not be lost to you that all the greats crush vert in winter. Is ski-mo the secret sauce? All that time-on-feet and fighting-gravity does something. Vertical gain is a proxy for intensity and a way to build the muscular endurance required for staying power. I plan on doing as much as I can, ideally 2-3 times a week.

Otherwise you will find me racking up vert on the treadmill making pools of sweat. There are many ways to suffer. Once you figure out what scratches that itch, use it to the maximum.

Spin bike, elliptical, skierg, row machine are all viable ways to stress the aerobic system.

Performance and Patience

An important edge to the training is a performance mindset. Without a trail race around the corner I am preparing my first ski-mountaineering race: the Altitoy. This two day event at the ski station nearby attracts some of the world’s best.

The skills challenge is huge. But what really counts is the shift in mindset that comes when you really want to get better at something. So this is my excuse to hard shit.

The process requires patience. There is bad weather, holidays, sickness, and a thousand other set-backs. Roll with it. Find regularity and contentment while lost in the means.

Progression is a continuum. The road is long. Keep the pressure on.