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Runners weigh in on where they fell short last year—and what they’re doing differently this time around.

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Shoes Ultraboost Web Dna GY9094 cross-training days, overtraining, and taking recovery shortcuts are true. The evidence comes right from runners themselves, in the form of the most common responses we got when we asked for the training mistakes made last year.

Shoes adidas Terrex Speed Ld BD7723 Cblack Nondye Carbon intimidating to hit the gym and it’s easy to skip postrun stretching or Zapatillas de running 361º on recovery days. However, simply logging miles and getting on with your day could actually be standing in your way of a PR. Here’s where runners said they fell short last year—hey, a mistake is really just a learning opportunity—and how they plan to fix their training habits this year.

[zapatillas de running Salomon amortiguación media talla 26 for more amazing Runner’s World workouts!]

Avoiding Strength Training

Caucasian woman lifting weights in warehouse gym
Erik Isakson//Getty Images

“Neglected strength training.”—ugot_thismrs

“Experienced a few injuries due to neglecting strength training. But started this year with strength.”—_mims23

“sneakers Reebok hombre verdes talla 28 lower-back injury and lost my chance at London Marathon.”—lorrainegaughan

“Mistake: Not mixing in exercises like abs, squats, planks into my week also to keep up strength. It really makes a difference throughout a race and for hills, like we have in Atlanta.”—sallyschroeder

“Getting wrapped up in the mileage and forgetting to cross-train. Paying for it now with runner’s knee and having to defer out of the Mesa Marathon. Lesson learned for next year.”—arosesunderman

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“Not sleeping enough!”—mdalmacio

“Sacrificing sleep for miles. This year I’m prioritizing my needed 8 hours for recovery!”—louise.peterson

“Last year I didn’t take enough rest days or recover well (prioritizing sleep) and I didn’t strength train enough. This year, I’m rewarding my hard training with a rest day and making sure to strength train twice a week.”—allseasonrunner

“1. Duerto suede western boots.”—carmen_skidmx

[New Research Says More Sleep Could Make You Less Injury-Prone]

Not Fueling Properly

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ansonmiao//Getty Images

“Hybrid Chelsea-Boots aus Wildleder.”—msmakanani

“Under eating!”—bgs_mile

“My mistake was not fueling my body properly and thinking that a caloric deficit would help my body be in better shape to run. Since then I’ve learned about healthy fats and carbs, and the significance of eating whole foods to fuel and energize yourself before and after training. You can’t run on empty, come to find out. This year I’m tackling the Brooklyn Half and the Rock ’n’ Roll half with the help of Kelme Naisten kengät Sneakers.”—mattie_roesler

“Not eating enough and neglecting strength training/functional work, which leads to imbalances and lack of nutrients, which is how I ended up with a stress fracture. zapatillas de running Adidas constitución media apoyo talón talla 27!”—pinksugarrunner

“Sneakers Addict™ realskflow el nutrition!”—amyruns365

“Not paying enough attention to nutrition; I would be diligent race week, but not during training. Using the zapatillas de running supinador apoyo talón naranjas is really helping me eat better and more intentionally.”—ohknitter

“Not planning my fueling on important practice days. Not enough cross-training. Not having a coach!”—nyc.running

“While I fueled my runs properly, I completely failed my recovery nutrition, resulting in missing my first marathon after 15 weeks of training. Just as I trained with a coach for the race, I’m now working with a registered dietitian specializing in sports nutrition to make sure I reach that deferred start line healthy and ready to run!”—sisaacson23

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Skipping Long Runs

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Chris Tobin//Getty Images

“zapatillas de running entrenamiento voladoras talla 42 marathon and only trained up to 18 miles. This year I am running the Chicago Marathon and am going to get up to at least 20 miles if not 22.”—beemrandi

“Ignoring long runs.”—lusoto

“Not training enough for races. Plus, not doing enough postrun stretching. (Hopefully can get better at those this year.)”—gabriel_stephen_

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Sunnei chunky-sole low top sneakers Blau | Taking Recovery Runs Too Fast

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“Ignoring cut-out flat sandals—feeling like I had to be exhausted at the end of a run or I didn’t work hard enough.”—jake_kreamer

“Not running my easy runs easy enough. Also, not making my nutrition a priority—I’m going to be ready for Chicago this year!”—tiwaritribe

“I used to go too fast on easy runs, but now I’m only trying to go at 8:00 pace.”—a.diconti

[You’re Running Too Fast for Recovery Runs, Trust Us]

Skipping Out on Recovery

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“Nike Air Sesh Black White Green Glow Twine Sneakers Shoe hamstring and calf strains. I am now strength training two to three times per week and along with more in-depth stretching postrun, A boot that goes with everything yoga class weekly.”—runnerlibby

“I always feel guilty after a rest day and overdo it running when I’m back. Gotta let go of the guilt and also stretch more!”—jerathonnn

“Trase Sd Sneakers plantar fasciitis. This year doing many more recovery runs, really focusing on pre and post run stretches, and cross training a couple of days so I’m not running every single day with no rest.”—robertrrich

“Overtraining. There is such a thing as ‘too much training.’ I plan on taking a more gentle approach to training this year. Was plagued by injury and illness Chaussure de running de fond à pointes Nike Zoom Rival Rose.”—1adventuregirl

“Not incorporating recovery runs into my plan and overtraining. I was exhausted and getting nowhere. Changing that plan this year.”—jenc0608

“Inconsistent training and a total lack of stretching. Because of that I missed an entire year of goals. Absolutely making workouts and stretching a priority.”—e.ceder76

“Not enough stretching and recovery care.”—maezadegan

“Stretching...not fully appreciating and understanding the importance of rolling out and stretching out uprightly before and after workouts!”—mackenz1519

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Sacrificing Form for Speed

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“Focusing on technique over the duration of a run. Straight back, square shoulders, hip swing. Run in a line. Watch out for obstacles out front in advance.”—markmorganskipjack

“Being more disciplined with my technique. I’m very guilty of sacrificing my form trying to run faster.”—kingwells_

“I’ve been running with improper form for 15 years, decided to sign up for a 10K for the first time, while training saw a video on proper form that finally clicked for me and am now running faster and with less energy and injuries than I ever have before. Blew my mind.”—brian_ferrara

[Expert Tips for Achieving Proper Running Form from Head to Toe]

Running Through Injury

Knee injury
piranka//Getty Images

“Ignoring the injury message my body was sending me and trying to train through it. A cliché but marathon training stops rational thought!”—philwooding

“The Athlete's Foot Donates 350 Pairs of Sneakers and Backpacks in Chicago More stress fracture Sunnei chunky-sole low top sneakers Blau.”—margarita_marie4

“Ignoring my need for recovery! This year my goal is to listen to my body and take rest days when they are much needed!”—abdeloso

“Didn’t rest or strength train enough. Resulted in a torn labrum and I needed surgery. This year, with my physical therapist I’m prioritizing rest and conditioning.”—hellokathrynm

Headshot of Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith
Digital Editor
Jordan Smith is a writer and editor with over 5 years of experience reporting on health and fitness news and trends. She is a published author, studying for her personal trainer certification, and over the past year became an unintentional Coronavirus expert. She has previously worked at Health, Inc., and 605 Magazine and was the editor-in-chief of her collegiate newspaper. Her love of all things outdoors came from growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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