There's tired and then there's tiiiiiiiiired.

When you are bone-tired after a hard workout, or you are dragging yourself straight to the couch after yet another stressful day of work, you're bound to wonder if it's all worth it.

Fatigue isn't fun. But it's a tool and a teacher.

Of course, fatigue can be problematic because it's an indicator of all sorts situations we want to avoid (too much stress, overtraining, illness, and more). It's there to tell us to slow down.

But, when used wisely in your training, fatigue can be your friend.

And it can help you achieve better results (even while running less).

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read more (8 minutes)

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ask me anything

Q:

I had an awesome race this spring. But I ended up walking through the water stops. I think if I just ran through them, I would have finished faster. Should I aim for that this fall?

A:

Congratulations on your race!

While we can't know for sure, walking through water stations might not have affected your outcome as much as you think. Taking a few moments to pause and actually get the water in versus slowing to a jog to spill most of the cup on your shirt might have actually helped your performance.

The little walk break might also have been enough to slow your breathing and heart rate just a little so that you felt better when you began to run again.

If you planned your walk breaks to be quick and efficient and you made up the time when you began to run again, this can be a good strategy for some.

On the other hand, if your water stops got longer and longer and your running pace wasn't getting faster to make up the time spent walking, yes, those longer walk breaks did affect your overall time.

There's nothing wrong with walking of course, but if you are spending more time walking because the running is becoming too much, that's what we can work on next time.

Some runners feel refreshed (and rehydrated!) when they stop for a moment to drink. Others feel the walk interrupts their flow and it becomes even harder to get back going again.

Once you figure out what works best for you, you'll know how to not let the water stops stop you.

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podcast

What if I told you there was a way that you could not only keep, but build your running fitness even with an injury?

And even better, it’s something you can do when you’re not injured to supplement your running fitness safely as you age.

Plus it feels amazing on a hot summer day.

Ready to dive in?

Join my conversation with Fluid Running coach Jen Govostis. We talk about:

• The benefits of deep water running,
• The technique and equipment you need to do it right, and
• Exactly how you use it to replace some or all of your land running workouts

This episode is in no way sponsored by the Fluid Running company, but they are offering a discount for free app workout with purchase of their system. Use promo code plantedrun

And of course, don’t forget to stay tuned all the way to the end of the conversation for another Mental Strength Minute. Fortify your mind in 60 seconds or less.

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inspo

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

— Aristotle

Have a great run today, Coach Claire

P.S. Need a real plan for success this fall? From now until the end of July (or when I reach 25 plans, which ever comes first), you'll save 15% on gift certificates which you can use anytime for a 12-14 week custom training plan.

​Simply click here and use the code JULY25 at check out and I'll give the first 25 runners 15% off.

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Thank you for being a part of the Planted Runner community!

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My mission is to help runners just like you reach goals they never dreamed possible through science-backed training and plant-based nutrition.

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Since 2016, I've helped thousands of every day runners become fitter, faster, and stronger with truly customized training and coaching.

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I also love to share what I have learned from my own journey starting as a non-runner to a 2:58 marathoner at age 42, as well what I have learned coaching runners, completely FREE. I do that every week in this newsletter and on the Planted Runner Podcast.

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