All About That Base
Everything else is just for show
I was talking to my Pilates instructor about running when she asked about my training for JFK 50. As I laid out the broad outline – stacking 8-12 mile runs, weekly 20+ milers, tempo and LT workouts, treadmill climbs – her eyes started glazing over until she finally said out loud what she had been thinking the whole time, “Wow, that’s crazy.”
I kind of dread running conversations these days because the amount of training I do doesn’t feel the least bit crazy to me. It feels like a lot right now, but it doesn’t feel crazy. The reason I’m able to run so much and train so hard is that I’ve built an enormous aerobic base over the years. There’s nothing unhinged about accumulating a steady diet of miles over a long period of time.
“Maybe,” I countered. “But you’re about to lead us through exercises that will feel easy for you but leave the rest of us gasping for breath. The reason is you’ve been doing Pilates for a long time and we’re just beginners.”
In other words, it’s all about that base. Whether it’s running, Pilates, cycling, lifting, yoga or any other kind of activity, consistent practice over long periods of time builds a foundational base that can withstand pretty much anything. A well-developed base will help you bounce back from injuries and inactivity, but it will also normalize what other people call crazy.
After the jump, how the 3 R’s — regroup, reframe, and refocus — came into play following a tough run.