The Beauty of Routine

As I sit writing this it's 8:07 AM, I have a toasted bagel with jam and a cup of decaf coffee next to me as I type away, killing off the final minutes before my morning run. Of course this could almost any day of the week and you would find me in approximately the same place eating the same food and sipping on the same beverage. Does this sound boring to you? It may be a bit boring, but for a runner, or at least this runner, it's just the sort of stability I need to perform at my best... slow as that best may be.

A coach friend of mine passed along a few words of wisdom that I've carried with me from back in my cycling days, "You should be able to identify a purpose in everything you do." While he was talking exclusively about training the quote also implies the same for the 20-22 hours you're in recovery from, or preparation for, you next session. My bagel for example is a blend of two quick digesting carbs, and unlike other foods time has shown that a bagel will not upset my digestion while out on the roads, especially if I've given it the necessary 15-30 minutes needed to let it settle. My coffee, while not caffeinated is hot, wakes me up, and helps to speed up my early morning digestion just enough to get things moving. And finally the physical routine of getting up and doing these things in the same order everyday lends a sense of calm and ease that's highly conducive to the state of mind and motivation necessary to train. I have found it especially helpful to use this time to focus on the coming workout and prepare myself for any hurtles (mental hurtles that is) I may need to overcome on the run.

While all of this routine and daily preparation for a mild morning workout is not strictly necessary it is something I like, and it is partially responsible for the last year's extremely consistent training. Like many runners I used to fit my workouts in around whatever else was going on in my life, rather that carve out a chunk of time specifically crafted for the run itself, the shift in priorities necessary to given running it's own routine wasn't necessarily easy but it sure was worth the effort involved.

I write all this to point out the usefulness of developing routines that aid you, as opposed to bad habits that inhibit your training and self-care. If there is something that stops you from running consistently and you can change it then do so; your running will thrive with new habits and routine that supports your training. I will admit that applying routine to your own running is not always easy, but it is most certainly a great benefit to any training program, and the opportunity for introspection is undoubtedly beneficial to a productive and happy life.

Best of running and I'll see you on the roads!