Following a solid break after the track season, the cool fall air marks the time of year to start getting in shape for cross country and winter marathon or road running season. The racing season may have started for some, but those who had late track seasons are starting to come into, or just finish, their post-season break.
Base training is a way to help your body adapt to running distances, allowing it to build on the amount of miles you can run while staying both comfortable and safe. Runners approach base training in a building block format, and are careful to not put in too many miles too quickly. Base training should last at least six weeks, but for those seriously training, it is better to extend it for two months or more, continuing to build up miles into the beginning of the season.
To start base training, it is best to map out your progression of mileage from the first week of training to the largest amount of miles you plan to run during the season. The first week should be low, and shouldn’t be a huge jump from where you started the previous season. It should also be a reflection of how much you’ve run in the past, as well as what you are training for.
