16 Replies to “Runners Can Thrive Being Predictable: Why ‘predictable’ monotony doesn’t deserve such a bad rep in our sport”
This post makes me feel so much better about my own predictable tendencies! I really do love routine and knowing what is what, and whilst I’m all for mixing things up too on occasion, I’m glad to hear it’s may not be such a bad thing after all 🙂
I run the same route almost every single day, and as long as I live in the city along the lakefront I have no plans to change that route anytime soon. Sure every now and then I veer off onto a new sub path, but I just cannot tear myself away from the lakefront. Love it love it love it.
I’m really predictable in most areas of life, and I thrive on having a routine for work and workouts. But I think I’m pretty impulsive when it comes to moving to new places, starting a new career, things like that.
yes! read your predictability with food. it seriously pains me to go to a restaurant i love and try something new because then i will be sad that i didnt get to eat what i was really craving from there in the first place. so funny.
also. love your example of running with my dad. so often when i am running i will be reminded of things he said to me (when i used to hate running but went with him anyway because he was my dad…haha!)…like hills. he always used to tell me how he loved them. i thought he was nuts. and now i feel im a stronger uphill runner than downhill. i called to tell him that the other day and he just got the whole told you so attitude going on. haha. same with the routes i love to run when im back home…i like to stick to the ones we used to run together:)
as far as routine. it messes me up so bad when i dont run on days i already have deemed “running days” in my mind. but im trying real hard to maintain a routine im comfortable with but also learn to vary paces (easy vs hard) and listen to my body and take a day off if needed…even if its a “run” day. breaking a routine is hard though. it gives me anxiety;) haha!
yea, running with the pops are some AWESOME memories, and glad u get some of those too! 🙂 try not to give usrself a panic attack out there if ur running sked has to be a weeeee bit more flexible and u have to listen to the body…u’ve been running long enough that u know when the ‘right’ time to taper back is. 😉
I am definitely a creature of habit… superstition too! The pre-race fuel is part habit, part knowing what works, and part superstition, haha. I also like knowing mile markers and things like that too :).
complete creature of habit – predictable in everything!
I liked this post because I sometimes wonder how I can get faster – do I have to be posting supremely awesome workouts? killing myself? make myself super tired?
It’s nice to have a reminder than consistent work day in and day out is what leads to progress…
I always have a cup of tea by my side. I think I drink more green tea than is recommended, but hey I get cold really easily and it keeps me warm! I suppose I am also predictable in that on a Saturday at the markets the coffee shop guys know that I have a cappuccino when I first arrive and a long black before I head home. Predictable behaviour or a ritual? It all depends on your view point I suppose.
When it comes to running I run my best when I have a routine. At the moment the routine is in a bit of melt down because of some blood pressure issues but when I am in a training phase I really love the predictability of a weekly routine. That’s what next week’s for right?
oh no, are you okay?? i hope the blood pressure issues u speak of aren’t too serious…i can’t have anything wrong with my chickpea!! take care of urself girlie, and for the time being live in the now and keep taking it week by week! big hugs! 🙂
Haha um I’m predictable with my litttle quirks or things I have to do before races.
One thing that is good about predictability, I can track my progress from one year to the next.
Obsessively tracking every run and trying to beat it every day.
I’m predictable but adventurous, I love to go exploring on my runs and don’t mind running off the ‘beaten path’ to have fun.
This post makes me feel so much better about my own predictable tendencies! I really do love routine and knowing what is what, and whilst I’m all for mixing things up too on occasion, I’m glad to hear it’s may not be such a bad thing after all 🙂
haha….glad we can all make each other feel better about our own samenesses…lol, that is so a word! 😉
I run the same route almost every single day, and as long as I live in the city along the lakefront I have no plans to change that route anytime soon. Sure every now and then I veer off onto a new sub path, but I just cannot tear myself away from the lakefront. Love it love it love it.
i’ve seen that path and i’d be sticking to that view too! 🙂
I’m really predictable in most areas of life, and I thrive on having a routine for work and workouts. But I think I’m pretty impulsive when it comes to moving to new places, starting a new career, things like that.
i like to think i have a similar attitude. 🙂
yes! read your predictability with food. it seriously pains me to go to a restaurant i love and try something new because then i will be sad that i didnt get to eat what i was really craving from there in the first place. so funny.
also. love your example of running with my dad. so often when i am running i will be reminded of things he said to me (when i used to hate running but went with him anyway because he was my dad…haha!)…like hills. he always used to tell me how he loved them. i thought he was nuts. and now i feel im a stronger uphill runner than downhill. i called to tell him that the other day and he just got the whole told you so attitude going on. haha. same with the routes i love to run when im back home…i like to stick to the ones we used to run together:)
as far as routine. it messes me up so bad when i dont run on days i already have deemed “running days” in my mind. but im trying real hard to maintain a routine im comfortable with but also learn to vary paces (easy vs hard) and listen to my body and take a day off if needed…even if its a “run” day. breaking a routine is hard though. it gives me anxiety;) haha!
yea, running with the pops are some AWESOME memories, and glad u get some of those too! 🙂 try not to give usrself a panic attack out there if ur running sked has to be a weeeee bit more flexible and u have to listen to the body…u’ve been running long enough that u know when the ‘right’ time to taper back is. 😉
I am definitely a creature of habit… superstition too! The pre-race fuel is part habit, part knowing what works, and part superstition, haha. I also like knowing mile markers and things like that too :).
completely with u on the mile markers thing…we were using those way before the garmin trend made it easy to know wat dist. u are at. 😉
complete creature of habit – predictable in everything!
I liked this post because I sometimes wonder how I can get faster – do I have to be posting supremely awesome workouts? killing myself? make myself super tired?
It’s nice to have a reminder than consistent work day in and day out is what leads to progress…
consistency is the key baby! 😉
I always have a cup of tea by my side. I think I drink more green tea than is recommended, but hey I get cold really easily and it keeps me warm! I suppose I am also predictable in that on a Saturday at the markets the coffee shop guys know that I have a cappuccino when I first arrive and a long black before I head home. Predictable behaviour or a ritual? It all depends on your view point I suppose.
When it comes to running I run my best when I have a routine. At the moment the routine is in a bit of melt down because of some blood pressure issues but when I am in a training phase I really love the predictability of a weekly routine. That’s what next week’s for right?
oh no, are you okay?? i hope the blood pressure issues u speak of aren’t too serious…i can’t have anything wrong with my chickpea!! take care of urself girlie, and for the time being live in the now and keep taking it week by week! big hugs! 🙂
Haha um I’m predictable with my litttle quirks or things I have to do before races.
One thing that is good about predictability, I can track my progress from one year to the next.
Obsessively tracking every run and trying to beat it every day.
I’m predictable but adventurous, I love to go exploring on my runs and don’t mind running off the ‘beaten path’ to have fun.
quirks…hmmm, i don’t think i have any of those!! 😉 lol…i can’t even type that without the computer yelling liar at me.