Dylan talks about the Off-season

For many of you that goal race for the season has come and gone, whether it was 1 mile or the marathon. So let’s talk off-season. You are now in that transition time between seasons and big blocks of training. I can remember that time well, the post-marathon blues were something I often experienced during this time. You’re out of routine, eating like crap, drinking more than usual and those spring races are way off in the future.
This is definitely the time to indulge. But don’t just sit on the couch, instead now is the time to try something new in training or in racing. Sign-up for that trail race you’ve always wanted to do or start that strength training routine you’ve neglected for so long. Mixing it up a little should help you to get rolling again this fall.
If you haven’t planned out your racing schedule for the spring, now is a good time to do that too. Sit down with your coach, talk about your goals and make a plan to achieve them. This has always been something that helped me kick start my training again after a little down time. Getting those goal races set in stone can help you visualize what the training will be like over the next few months.
All that said, it is important to respect your downtime. It’s as important to listen to your body now as it is when you are in the thick of training. If little niggles pop up, don’t try to run through them. Deal with them. After the 2012 Olympics I had some nagging pain in my hip and pelvis. It took several months of running through pain before I took the initiative to deal with the issue. It turned out to be a stress fracture. Ignoring it set me back in my training cycle and made me rush things. That set off a cycle of injuries for me. So please listen to your body and deal with any issues your experiencing now, during this transition time.