Welcome to Wednesday Word, a monthly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. On the first Wednesday of every month you will have a single word prompt to write about. Let your imagination run free and share with your readers your interpretation of that word, or simply use it as inspiration for your post. Today’s word is discipline… I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.

 

Discipline
Control gained by enforcing obedience or order;
Orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior;
Self-control
~ Merriam-Webster

 

As much as I love going on relaxing and chatty runs with friends, I know the importance of being disciplined and pushing myself on quality runs if I expect to see results when I race. No matter what training plan I follow, self discipline is the key to staying on track.

Reporting my weekly workouts here on the blog for the world to see, I have little problem staying disciplined, and for that, I thank you for holding me accountable. That wasn’t always the case, though. At one point when my motto was, “run all the marathons,” I wasn’t very disciplined because at that time I focused more on running races for fun than running for a specific time. If you were to look at my race results from about 2006 to 2009, you’d see that my performance suffered from a lack of focus and discipline.

In 2014 I changed my focus and set new running goals. Because of an injury in 2012 I could no longer run marathons and with the switch to shorter races, I focused on getting faster. I knew that maintaining discipline would be an important factor in finding success and set up a plan to help me reach my new goals. My plan can be broken down into the six following tips…

 

My tips for maintaining discipline when training for a race:

1. Find a training plan that works with your schedule and amount of time you’re able to commit.

2. Make your training a priority by putting your runs on your calendar at a time you’ll be most likely to get them done.

3. Find a training partner who will help hold you accountable and vice versa.

3. Get enough rest so your body can stay healthy and support the new demands you’re putting on it.

4. Make healthy food choices and focus on getting the proper macronutrients to support the energy you’re expending.

5. Make adjustments as necessary to your daily routine so that your training continues to be fun.

6. Reward yourself periodically for a job well done. Rewards can be as simple as sleeping in on a non training day, or as extravagant as a new running outfit.

 

If you’re looking for a new disciplined approach to training, and implement my tips, please let me know how it goes. Good luck!

 

Now, about the leftover Halloween candy… What are your tips for me to stay disciplined and not eat it all?  😉

 

How disciplined are you? 

 

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Deb Runs



Next Month’s Wednesday Word: Beauty