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The Planted Runner

should you really be *this* sore?

Published 16 days ago • 3 min read

"I feel like a failure," Denise said to me.​
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"I should be much farther along than this."
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A runner in her 40s who I'll call Denise started working with me one-on-one a couple months ago. She's a talented athlete and has completed several half marathons on very little training, and got results most well-trained runners dream of. She was often placing in her age group.
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She came to me wanting to train for her first marathon.​
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After talking with her, I felt she was likely ready for an intermediate-level marathon plan. She was doing well for the first few weeks, but then she started mentioning how sore she was getting.
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She was feeling sore after her long runs, the next day, and before and after speedwork. Soon it was at the point she was sore pretty much all the time.

Was this normal? Was I pushing her too hard?

Find out...

ask me anything

Q:

I've decided not to run a marathon this spring. I'm just finishing up a 6-week 5k cycle and I'm not sure what to do next. There's a half I can try in May, but other than that, I don't really have anything on the calendar. Thoughts?

A:

There's something very comforting about racing a marathon each spring and fall. By the time you recover from one, you've got a month or two to play around with other kinds of training before you're ready to start focusing on the next one.

You're never too far away from the familiar grind.

And that's exactly why you should take a break.

You've started off strong with a speed block and I hope that you've increased your fitness with 5k training. But now what?

My first question to you is, what excites and motivates you? Is the half you are eyeing something that you are looking forward to? Or is it just a placeholder?

There's nothing wrong with putting a race on the schedule that's not super exciting, just to have something to aim for.

But it's nothing like getting out of your confort zone and trying something that scares you a little.

Maybe that's a hilly trail race, or a destination race.

Or maybe it's something completely different like Hyrox (yes, I said it!) or another sport.

If you've been grinding away for years at the marathon, it can be fun to be a beginner again at something that you are not comparing yourself to your former self.

The marathon will be there when you are ready.

podcast

The PR Lab is back! This time with an iconic half marathon.

Go behind the scenes with me as I create a custom training plan for one lucky runner.

​In this episode, we feature Destinee:

🏃🏽‍♀️33 years old

🏃🏿training for Iowa’s EMC Dam to DSM Half Marathon

🏃🏼‍♀️recovering perfectionist

Learn how I create a custom marathon training plan for Destinee.

If you’d like to enter to win a free training plan created live on the show, first, write an Apple Podcast Review and then go to theplantedrunner.com/prlab​

I can't wait to feature YOU in the next one!

inspo

“If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough.”

—Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Peace Prize winner

Have a great run today,

Coach Claire

P.S. It's not too late! Get the accountability and support you need to crush your spring goals with the PR Team. You'll get a custom training plan, coaching from me, and all of my digital programs and products (like Find Your Flow State) for free. And oh yeah, it's also a lot of fun!

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

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

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

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.

Being a part of this email community ensures that you first access to everything we have coming up – from free running and nutrition guides, to events like workshops and retreats, and so much more to help you get results.

I'm so glad you're here and my inbox is always open. Feel free to reply with questions or feedback!

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600 1st Ave, Ste 330 PMB 92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2246

The Planted Runner

Claire Bartholic

Coach Claire has helped hundreds of real runners chase their dreams and conquer what they never thought possible. Her coaching philosophy combines science-based training, plant-based running nutrition, and proven mindset techniques to unlock every runner's true potential. She's a certified vegan running coach, sports nutrition specialist, mom, and borderline obsessive plant lover. As an athlete herself, she went from a 4:02 first marathon all the way to a 2:58 finishing time at the age of 42, entirely plant-based. She coaches vegan, plant-based, and plant-curious runners to achieve the same dramatic success, from those on a walk-run program, general fitness, up to high-level athletes

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