Managing big training weeks
How to meet your goals without losing your mind.
The Big Mileage Week (or BMW, an acronym I just made up) is staring you right in the face. It’s been on your calendar for months, but it somehow didn’t seem real until now.
You’ve already been through a lot during this training cycle. In fact, you’ve accomplished way more than you thought you were capable of doing when you signed up for this silly race that’s still several weeks away.
Guess what? Now you have to do even more.
No matter what distance you’re racing, the BMW is a staple of training plans. Marathon prep generally includes a 50-mile week capped by a 20-mile long run. Shorter races call for less volume, but the principle remains the same. This is when you run more miles and longer distances than you have in the past.
In many ways, BMW’s are even more taxing than races because of the cumulative toll from the miles already run. That’s the whole point. If you can make it through training in a semi-fatigued state, imagine how well you’ll do when you’re fresh, rested, and tapered for your race.
There’s no reason to look upon BMW’s with fear and trepidation. Instead, view them as an opportunity to see just how far you’ve come, as well as a gauge that will tell you how much farther you have to go. If all goes well, the experience should fill you with confidence. If things misfire, take solace in the fact that you still have time to dial in adjustments before race day.
Here are some ways to manage the stress and strain of heavy volume weeks.
