Welcome to Wednesday Word, a weekly linkup for everyone, not just health and fitness bloggers. Each Wednesday 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 pragmatic…..  I’d love to have you link up, and if you do, please remember to follow my six simple rules.

WednesdayWordPragmatic
 

Pragmatic – practical as opposed to idealistic;
dealing with the problems that exist in a specific situation
in a reasonable and logical way instead of depending on ideas and theories
~ Merriam-Webster

 

It’s easy for unseasoned runners to approach their first training cycle in an idealistic way. They have visions of running in perfect temperatures and low humidity, and might not understand how to make adjustments for heat or cold. They expect to hit each run right on pace, and aren’t able to make necessary adjustments to accommodate fatigue, weather conditions, or terrain. They’re not prepared for recovery to take longer some days than others, and the last thing they expect is to get injured making it hard for them to listen to their bodies and rein it in when things don’t feel right.

I’ve found that a successful training cycle needs to be approached in a realistic, or pragmatic way. As runners, we need to expect the unexpected, and make sensible decisions during the weeks leading up to our races. Failure to be realistic and continuing with training in an idealistic way can lead to a derailment of even the best laid plans. I should know, it happened to me as I trained for the 2011 Rock ‘N’ Roll DC Marathon and I was a very seasoned runner (but that’s a story for another day).

For the most part, I’m a very pragmatic person and I approach my training with the same thought process – through logic and practicality. This process has lead to some great racing seasons, once I learned my lesson. It’s not rocket science, but it’s easy to get excited about the end goal, and fail to train using logic over idealism. 

 

How to approach your training in a pragmatic way:

  • Set your goal, understanding that it might be necessary to adjust it
  • Design or find a training plan that will best help you meet your goal
  • Follow your plan smartly
  • Readjust as necessary to accommodate changes in schedule, weather, health, etc.
  • Listen to your body
  • Don’t freak out over occasionally missing workouts 
  • Reevaluate your goal and plan as needed 
  • Make training decisions based on facts not hopes

 

Approaching your training with a practical attitude will help keep it real, and hopefully help avoid unexpected disappointments caused by unforeseen problems in the end. Good luck!

 

Are you a pragmatic or idealistic person?  

 

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Deb Runs
 
 


 

Next Wednesday’s Word: Kerfuffle