Consistency

I'm off to my best mileage start of a year in my recorded history. Essentially, it all comes down to consistency. I'm running 6 days a week and getting in 6-10 miles per run. I'm taking the extra few moments after each run to stretch the problem areas, groin, calf, IT band that have plagued me in the past. Generally, I've been finishing my runs feeling better than when I started and have little soreness during the day. Mid-40s mileage for a little while will be a great base for Spring.

Looking at my running history, 1987 and 1997 were, by far, my best racing years. One was during college and one at the height of my marathoning days. Despite different training methods and personal obligations, the main similarities are consistent running and avoiding injuries. (okay, they tend to help one another, so maybe they are only one item). In the summer/fall of 87, I took off 10 days over the course of 20+ weeks. Most of those days were either pre or post a hard race. Other than the normal one week off between racing seasons back then, I was averaging 1 day off every two weeks. In 1997, from Boston to Ocean State, I averaged more than 5.5 days per week and was consistently at 6 days per week in the fall, leading up to my Baystate half-marathon (PR 1:23:19) and Ocean State (PR 3:19:36). Along the way, I had some fast races (18:33 Brewery Exchange 5k) and Aug/Sep averaged about 50 miles per week.

Now, if the weather and my schedule would cooperate, I'd like to avoid one set of consistency that I'm currently on....All my miles have been on the treadmill so far this year. That first run involving downhills is going to be interesting.