As I continue to eye a fall half marathon to attempt an Olympic Trials qualifier, my current mindset is to do everything I can to prepare myself to toe the starting line with no regrets. It is funny how success can make you want to become more aggressive with training. For me, I am wanting to do more volume and faster sessions. Fortunately, I do not make these decisions as I trust my coach will get me in the best fitness for race day. As days become hotter and the humidity is unrelentless, it becomes all the more important to train smart. For me, this means being careful not to overtrain. I need to recognize that I can do more harm than good by fixating too much on weekly mileage and the volume as well as speed of a particular workout session. It is more important I do not overextend myself to the point where my body breaks down. Saint Louis is a tough city to train in during the summer months. With excitement starting to build as fall races near closer, it is important for me to remember to be patient during the summer months as I can hurt my fall race by being too aggressive now.
-Matt O’Connor
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