Weekly Planning & Adaptation
Core Principles
Hard/Easy Alternation
- •Never schedule two quality sessions on consecutive days
- •Quality session = tempo, intervals, race-pace work, long run with quality elements
- •Day after quality: easy run or rest
- •Day after long run: rest or very easy short run
Weekly Quality Budget
- •Beginner (< 30 km/week): 1 quality session + long run
- •Intermediate (30-60 km/week): 2 quality sessions + long run
- •Advanced (60+ km/week): 2-3 quality sessions + long run
- •Long run counts as quality if it includes tempo or race-pace segments
Volume Distribution
- •No single run > 30-35% of weekly total
- •Easy runs: 8-12km typically
- •Recovery runs: 5-8km, genuinely slow
Adapting the Plan
Missed Workout Decision Tree
Missed an easy run? -> Skip it. Don't add volume to other days. Weekly total will be slightly lower, that's fine.
Missed a quality session? -> Can you do it tomorrow? If so, shift the week. -> If >2 days late, skip it. Don't double up quality sessions. -> Never do the missed quality AND the next scheduled quality on consecutive days.
Missed the long run? -> Can you do it the next day? Swap with Monday's easy run. -> If you miss the weekend entirely, do a medium-long run mid-week. -> Don't add the missed long run distance to next week's long run.
Missed multiple days (illness/travel)? -> 1-3 days missed: resume where you left off, skip missed workouts -> 4-7 days missed: repeat the previous week at 80% volume -> 7+ days missed: step back two weeks in the plan
When to Add Extra Recovery
Add an extra rest day or convert quality to easy when:
- •Resting heart rate is 5+ bpm above normal
- •Sleep quality has been poor for 3+ nights
- •Unusual muscle soreness lasting >48 hours
- •Motivation is significantly lower than usual
- •Life stress is elevated (work deadline, personal issues)
- •Coming back from illness (even if feeling "fine")
Fatigue Indicators
- •Physical: heavy legs, elevated resting HR, poor sleep, appetite changes
- •Performance: can't hit usual easy paces, interval targets feel impossible
- •Mental: dread of running, irritability, loss of motivation
- •Injury signals: new aches, old niggles returning
If 2+ indicators present: reduce next week's volume by 20-30%. If 3+ indicators present: take an unplanned recovery week.
Life Accommodations
Travel
- •Run in the morning before activities if possible
- •Reduce planned volume by 20-30% during travel
- •Substitute hotel gym (treadmill) for outdoor runs
- •Running in a new city can be its own reward -- easy exploration runs
- •Don't stress about missed runs during short trips (1-3 days)
Illness
- •Above the neck (cold, sniffles): Can attempt easy running, stop if it worsens
- •Below the neck (cough, fever, body aches): Complete rest. No exceptions.
- •Return: 1 day off for every day of illness, at easy intensity only
- •Fever: No running until fever-free for 24 hours without medication
Work Stress
- •Training can be stress relief, but monitor total load
- •Consider converting quality sessions to easy runs during peak stress
- •Maintain frequency but reduce volume and intensity
- •Sleep is more important than training during high-stress periods
Weather Adjustments
Heat (>25C):
- •Slow pace by 10-30s/km
- •Shift runs to early morning or evening
- •Hydration becomes critical for runs >45 min
- •Convert quality sessions to easy if heat index is extreme
Cold (<-10C):
- •Warm up indoors before heading out
- •Reduce interval recovery time (keep moving)
- •Treadmill is a valid alternative
- •Watch for ice -- trail shoes or indoor alternatives
Rain/Snow:
- •Light rain: generally fine, adjust footing awareness
- •Heavy rain/storms: postpone or treadmill
- •Post-rain: watch for slippery surfaces, especially leaves
Pre-Race Week Modifications
Week Before a Goal Race
- •Volume at 50-60% of normal (marathon) or 70% (5K/10K)
- •Last quality session: 3-4 days before race
- •Include 2-3 race-pace strides in easy runs (just 4-6 x 20 seconds)
- •No new foods, shoes, or gear
- •Extra sleep: aim for 8+ hours, especially 2 nights before
- •Light shakeout jog day before race (20-30 min easy)
Week After a Goal Race
- •At least 2-3 days complete rest
- •Easy running only for 1-2 weeks
- •No quality sessions for at least 1 week (5K/10K) or 3 weeks (marathon)
- •Celebrate the achievement regardless of result
- •Review race and update CONTEXT.md with new data points
Weekly Check-In Template
When reviewing the week:
- •Planned vs Actual: Which workouts were completed? Modified? Missed?
- •Volume: Total km this week vs plan vs last 4-week average
- •Quality: Were quality sessions executed at target effort?
- •Long Run: Distance and quality -- did it go well?
- •How they feel: Energy, motivation, any aches?
- •Looking ahead: Any schedule conflicts or events next week?
- •Adjustment: Does next week's plan need modification?