Keep it Real

In my last training week post (here), my mate Chris asked when the 'real training' would start. When I read this comment I knew exactly what Chris meant and responded. However, over the last couple of days I mulled this question over and I am not so sure anymore. Thus, this muse constitutes some thoughts around what constitutes real training. (I have no idea what "keep it real" means by the way. Just seemed like something I wouldn't say to anyone unless they had trainers on 2 sizes too big, a baseball cap on sideways and a hoodie. Even then, I would only say it under torture.) I'd get a coffee now if you are going to attempt to read this inane post.

So, working on the principle that Chris (whom I'm not having a dig at by the way!) didn't mean that I was doing pretend training at the moment what else could real training be?

Lots of people I know (Jock for example) use running plans for their next marathon and as much as possible follow the plan (or at least Jock used to do this!). So they have their long slow days, their hill repeat days, their fartlek days etc etc. Does this constitute real training ? For some I suppose it does but for others it may not. For example, take Runner A who follows the plan to the letter never missing a session. S/he runs a PB by 5%. Take Runner B who tries to follow the plan but for one reason or another can't and misses quite a few sessions over a period of a few weeks. If Runner B also improves his/her PB by 5% who has done the real training?

Perhaps, real training constitutes specific training for the event that is to be attempted. In running terms this would mean only running and in multisport terms e.g. the coast to coast that I am trying to prepare for it would mean only doing road cycling, moving water kayaking and mountain running. For most people this would be impossible as they live geographically too far away from moving water and the mountains. So, if they chose to run on the roads have they stopped real training? Today, I went mountain biking. That is not an event in the coast to coast so if real means specific then I wasn't doing real training.

Perhaps real refers to quantity or quality. Well I have tried both these approaches when marathon training. When I do quantity I get faster and stronger but also more chance of getting ill. When I do quality I get quite a lot faster but don't get the same endurance and die at the end of the race. Thus, in my case, neither quantity or quality constitutes real training. There is a chance that a mix of quantity and quality constitutes real training but if I train 5 times a week doing a mix of the pair or 7 days a week doing purely quantity which one constitutes real training?

The trouble with considering real training in purely physical terms is that it doesn't take into account the mental side of things. Both Jock and Chris have witnessed times when I have been physically strong enough to continue at a certain pace in a marathon but mentally haven't got it. Does real training include mental training ? I am yet to see a training plan that gives any decent and consistent advice on real mental training (if you discount the constant drivel in articles that say things like says "visualise the 20mile point and see yourself bursting through it full of energy". Noone says how to do this and achieve this state of 20mile super strength, just that we should do it)

The trouble I have with thinking about real training is that I usually end up being a slave to training and not really enjoying myself. I am already thinking about how I fit in skiing into my daily training rather than adjusting my thoughts and calling this part of real training. When I was at college (19-23yrs old) I was really fit. I trained hard in kayaking/canoe slalom, climbed regularly and did some running on the fells. I never planned much of this (apart from canoe sessions when we started to get quite good) but I was fit and enjoyed training. I also ran everywhere (to lunch, between lectures etc etc) and got fit like that but that would never be considered real training in any sports magazine I've read.

OK, so here's my take on real training:

• It involves training at an effort that means that you feel pain/discomfort fairly regularly.
• It involves spending lots of time doing specific training for the event that you want to complete but doing other stuff (even lots of other stuff) is ok.
• It involves doing what fits in with your life and lifestyle so if a detailed plan works for you then great - it doesn't for me.
• It involves getting better at something - not necessarily faster (age doesn't always allow this) just more experienced.
• Doing reading and mental preparation is involved also (whether this be " I'm a winner, go go go" or "I'll survive the pain, it'll be ok").

Thus, my training has started already. However, as the months go by I should be doing a lot more training. At which point I start real training I don't know but I may have already started and then again I may never achieve it!

And finally (hate starting sentences with 'And'!), in this blog I am bound to use the term real training at some point or other to mean something different!