Taylor Benoit anchoring the winning 2021 MHSAA 1A 4X800m Relay
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Learning to Run
As the summer is coming to end, the cross country season is approaching. I took this summer as an opportunity to train for the upcoming season. This will actually be my first season of cross country which is exciting! I'm really looking forward to what the season brings and how I perform.
Once school ended, I got my schedule for weekly mileage. The goal was to slowly build up my mileage because long-distance running is a new thing to me. Actually, I started two weeks later into this training because I had a meet at the University of Louisiana Monroe to train for. I ran the 800-meter race and set a new personal record of 2:29.88. Also, I soon found out that I had strep, so I was not able to train the following week. Once I was able to train, I started with 6 miles for the week. Currently, I am running 15 miles for the week. I rotate from 2 to 3 miles every other day.
I also train by having a workout routine after I finish my running. I rotate by either focusing on core, arms, or legs. I find it easier to focus on one area considering that I have run along with this. My workouts usually last around 15-20 minutes. If I am using weight, I tend to do more sets and not use as much weight. I have noticed a huge difference in my running since I have started a workout routine.
Finally, I will be explaining my recovery process. I run every day besides Sunday. Monday usually is a recovery run for me considering I build up mileage over the week. I take it as an easier run and easier workout. I do not want to over-exert anything at the beginning of the week considering I have to do that later on in the week. Also, it is huge for me to get the right amount of sleep and to hydrate. I feel the best during my runs if I get around 10 hours of sleep.
In conclusion, this summer has been a time of learning and training with my running. Although it was a bit tough at times, I am excited to see how helpful this training has been for my upcoming cross country season and later for my track season!
