Keys to Running Comebacks

I have been running for the past 20 + years and have never been surrounded by so many running comebacks both personally and coaching as I have been over the past year. Maybe all these comebacks have something to do with age and having more life responsibilities, being more susceptible to injuries, or younger runners just not having direction after college outside of the team environment.

The key to a comeback is having both daily and weekly goals - that you can log and check off. A goal that is one year down the road is awesome but make sure to have those short term running goals that are right in front of you on a daily basis. There are different comeback stages like the transition to running "X" days a week, to completing runs feeling good, to feeling fit, to being confident you can race.  The process all takes some time and try not to make the mistake of comparing fitness and race results to what you have done in the past.....train in the present. Each build up and training cycle takes on its own feeling and features.