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.
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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Next Wednesday’s Word: Kerfuffle
Great tips!
I am totally a pragmatic athlete. Without a plan, I flounder, stress and enevitably get injured.
Training for my 1st triathlon now and making sure to be pragmatic about it!
I would think you’d need to be very pragmatic with your tri training, especially swimming. Jumping into the water undertrained on race day could lead to disastrous results. Good luck!
I am not a first time runner but I still catch myself doing this when it comes to training. I want to do too much but I know I need to be practical about it and do what is right for my body!
It’s so easy to get into that trap of expecting everything to go as written on our plans. It took a couple of times for me to realize that things happen even when we have the best of intentions.
Pragmatic could be a synonym for realism LOL My ultra had all the making of a disaster, but I was able to keep calm and take it in stride (no pun intended).
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…Calling Myself an Ultra-Marathoner
Realistic IS a synonym for pragmatic! 😀 Good for you for “keeping calm, and running on!” Heading over to read your recap now.
I’m both–pragmatic and idealistic. But to realize my dreams, I approach my training very methodically.
Does that make sense?
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…A Runner’s Gotta Do…
You know, I think we have to be a little of both. I probably should have mentioned that to even seek out some of these races we run, we need to be a little idealistic. No?
These are great tips. I tend to get too caught up in the details and worry about adjusting a plan to fit my needs, but it’s really important to do!
Coco recently posted…A Pragmatic Love Story — Vinegar Girl Book Review
Yes, I agree; we have to adjust our plans to fit our ever-changing needs.
As I mention in my post, I am both.
And yes, it’s extremely easy for even a serious runner to be way to idealistic with their training — I think that happens to all of us.
The only tip I would add, is choose a longer training plan than you think you need, because that gives you more wiggle room to work around injuries, illnesses, and life.
Judy @ Chocolaterunsjudy recently posted…The opposite of visceral: Pragmatic
That’s a very good point, Judy. I just had to do that with a runner I’m coaching. Because of her longer than necessary training plan, I was able to encourage her to skip a few runs while on vacation (she would be walking all day, every day at Disney), and tell her not to worry. She’s home from vacation, running again, and all is well.
Pragmatic for sure (though I’ve had spurts of idealism).
Sonia recently posted…Pragmatic
Both are good in their own ways, and don’t you think it’s good to have a healthy mix of both? 🙂
I’d say I am a bit of both!
Michelle recently posted…Plankin’ and pushing forward
I think it’s great to have a healthy mix of both! 😀
You can’t be too rigid with the training plan. Making adjustments is a huge part of a successful training cycle. Sometimes you oversleep, just like me today. Did I beat myself up? No. I think that’s my body’s way of saying “take a break”. Thanks for the linkup!
You’re welcome! It’s great having you join us this week! 😀
Don’t freak out over missed workouts is big. In the past I always let doubt creep in if i missed a workout.
After a while you learn to adjust 🙂
These days I am very pragmatic, I don’t have a choice, I am trying to figure out what my feet will tolerate.
Karen recently posted…How One Week Bleeds to Another
You’ve got a good point there. You’ve got to be very methodical and realistic as you figure out how far you feet can go without complaining bitterly. Keep plugging along and I hope you figure it out soon.
I’d say I’m pragmatic, with a side of idealistic. Only a small portion, though. In fatherhood, writing and coaching, it’s best to write your plan in pencil!
Isn’t that the truth; and the same can be said for motherhood and running plans!
I think I’ve become more pragmatic in my running and training and that has helped me to stay injury free. I just can’t do all the things anymore
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner recently posted…Hagerstown Sprint Triathlon- Lessons Learned
Isn’t that the truth!?!
Deb Runs recently posted…The End Of A Very Special Era
Fully agree with all of your suggestions. I think keeping it real while having ambitious goals is possible, but being too idealistic often sets people up for disappointment.
Karen – Fit in France recently posted…Can pragmatism be taken too far ?
Exactly!
Perfect temps and low humidity— that sound sounds fabulous!!
Lauren recently posted…3 Pragmatic Tips with Planning your Race Schedule
A girl can dream… 😀