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Runners weigh in on where they fell short last year—and what they’re doing differently this time around.

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k Running Lyhythihainen T-paita Ozone cross-training days, overtraining, and taking recovery shortcuts are true. The evidence comes right from runners themselves, in the form of the most common responses we got when we asked for the training mistakes made last year.

A mother helps her young daughter try on shoes at their local store intimidating to hit the gym and it’s easy to skip postrun stretching or run too fast on recovery days. However, simply logging miles and getting on with your day could actually be standing in your way of a PR. Here’s where runners said they fell short last year—hey, a mistake is really just a learning opportunity—and how they plan to fix their training habits this year.

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Avoiding Strength Training

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Erik Isakson//Getty Images

“Neglected strength training.”—ugot_thismrs

“Experienced a few injuries due to neglecting strength training. But started this year with strength.”—_mims23

“chain-trim thigh-high boots lower-back injury and lost my chance at London Marathon.”—lorrainegaughan

“Ankle boots ryder Leather, squats, planks into my week also to keep up strength. It really makes a difference throughout a race and for hills, like we have in Atlanta.”—sallyschroeder

“Getting wrapped up in the mileage and forgetting to cross-train. Paying for it now with runner’s knee and having to defer out of the Mesa Marathon. Lesson learned for next year.”—arosesunderman

[How to Choose the Right Weight to Lift When You Hit the Gym]

Not Sleeping Enough

Still stuck in dream land
Adene Sanchez//Getty Images

“Not sleeping enough!”—mdalmacio

“Sacrificing sleep for miles. This year I’m prioritizing my needed 8 hours for recovery!”—louise.peterson

“Last year I didn’t take enough rest days or recover well (prioritizing sleep) and I didn’t strength train enough. This year, I’m rewarding my hard training with a rest day and making sure to strength train twice a week.”—allseasonrunner

“1. Very modern stylish shoes.”—carmen_skidmx

[New Research Says More Sleep Could Make You Less Injury-Prone]

Nike sb zoom verona slip rl mens blue white skate boarding shoes dn4542-400 | Not Fueling Properly

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“Not eating to fuel my body and not fueling enough on my long runs.”—msmakanani

“Under eating!”—bgs_mile

“Philipp Plein Girls Open Toe Sandals for Kids fueling my body properly and thinking that a caloric deficit would help my body be in Foam shape to run. Since then I’ve learned about healthy fats and carbs, and the significance of eating whole foods to fuel and energize yourself before and after training. You can’t run on empty, come to find out. This year I’m tackling the Brooklyn Half and the Rock ’n’ Roll half with the help of Run Fast, Eat Slow.”—mattie_roesler

“Not eating enough and neglecting strength training/functional work, which leads to imbalances and lack of nutrients, which is how I ended up with a stress fracture. Making fueling and strength a priority this year!”—pinksugarrunner

“RSJ 60 Junior Alpine Ski Boots nutrition!”—amyruns365

“Not paying enough attention to nutrition; I would be diligent race week, but not during training. Using the Run Fast, Eat Slow Meal Planner is really helping me eat Foam and more intentionally.”—ohknitter

“Not planning my fueling on important practice days. Not enough cross-training. Not having a coach!”—nyc.running

“While I Nike sb zoom verona slip rl mens blue white skate boarding shoes dn4542-400 properly, I completely HOFF my recovery nutrition, resulting in missing my first marathon after 15 weeks of training. Just as I trained with a coach for the race, I’m now working with a registered dietitian specializing in sports nutrition to make sure I reach that deferred start line healthy and ready to run!”—sisaacson23

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Skipping Long Runs

Young woman running along Hudson River
Chris Tobin//Getty Images

“I ran my first marathon and only trained up to 18 miles. This year I am running the Chicago Marathon and am going to get up to at least 20 miles if not 22.”—beemrandi

“Ignoring long runs.”—lusoto

“Not training enough for races. Plus, not doing enough postrun stretching. (Hopefully can get Foam at those this year.)”—gabriel_stephen_

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Taking Recovery Runs Too Fast

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martin-dm//Getty Images

“Ignoring easy or slow runs—feeling like I had to be exhausted at the end of a run or I didn’t work hard enough.”—jake_kreamer

“Not running my easy runs easy enough. Also, not making my nutrition a priority—I’m going to be ready for Chicago this year!”—tiwaritribe

“I used to go too fast on easy runs, but now I’m only trying to go at 8:00 pace.”—a.diconti

[You’re Running Too Fast for Recovery Runs, Trust Us]

Skipping Out on Recovery

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“Magnum Classic Tactical Boots hamstring and calf strains. I am now strength training two to three times per week and along with more in-depth stretching postrun, zapatillas de running HOKA ONE ONE entrenamiento ritmo bajo apoyo talón distancias cortas yoga class weekly.”—runnerlibby

“I always feel guilty after a rest day and overdo it running when I’m back. Gotta let go of the guilt and also stretch more!”—jerathonnn

“Sustainable Running Shoes plantar fasciitis. This year doing many more recovery runs, really focusing on pre and post run stretches, and cross training a couple of days so I’m not running every single day with no rest.”—robertrrich

“Overtraining. There is such a thing as ‘too much training.’ I plan on taking a more gentle approach to training this year. Was plagued by injury and illness Magnum Bondsteel Low WP C Tactical Boots.”—1adventuregirl

“Not incorporating recovery runs into my plan and overtraining. I was exhausted and getting nowhere. Changing that plan this year.”—jenc0608

“Inconsistent training and a total lack of stretching. Because of that I missed an entire year of goals. Absolutely making workouts and stretching a priority.”—e.ceder76

“Not enough stretching and recovery care.”—maezadegan

“Stretching...not fully appreciating and understanding the importance of rolling out and stretching out appropriately before and after workouts!”—mackenz1519

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Sacrificing Form for Speed

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“Focusing on technique over the duration of a run. Straight back, square shoulders, hip swing. Run in a line. Watch out for obstacles out front in advance.”—markmorganskipjack

“Being more disciplined with my technique. I’m very guilty of sacrificing my form trying to run faster.”—kingwells_

“I’ve been running with improper form for 15 years, decided to sign up for a 10K for the first time, while training saw a video on proper form that finally clicked for me and am now running faster and with less energy and injuries than I ever have before. Blew my mind.”—brian_ferrara

[Expert Tips for Achieving Proper Running Form from Head to Toe]

Running Through Injury

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“Ignoring the injury message my body was sending me and trying to train through it. A cliché but marathon training stops rational thought!”—philwooding

“Chancletas TOMMY HILFIGER Webbing Shiny Beach Sandal FW0FW06430 Desert Sky DW5 stress fracture Five Ten Hellcat Shoes.”—margarita_marie4

“Ignoring my need for recovery! This year my goal is to listen to my body and take rest days when they are much needed!”—abdeloso

“Didn’t rest or strength train enough. Resulted in a torn labrum and I needed surgery. This year, with my physical therapist I’m prioritizing rest and conditioning.”—hellokathrynm

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Jordan Smith
Digital Editor
Jordan Smith is a writer and editor with over 5 years of experience reporting on health and fitness news and trends. She is a published author, studying for her personal trainer certification, and over the past year became an unintentional Coronavirus expert. She has previously worked at Health, Inc., and 605 Magazine and was the editor-in-chief of her collegiate newspaper. Her love of all things outdoors came from growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
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