Unless running is your one-and-only passion, it's likely that you'll want to take an occasional break from the monotony of putting one foot in front of the other. Heck, even if you're completely dedicated to running and focused solely on improving your race times, taking downtime to rejuvenate and work on your weaknesses is still an important cycle in your long-term development.
Since you know downtime and taking a mental break from running is important, the question you likely want to know the answer to is: How do you stay fit during this break? You certainly don't want to lose all that running fitness.
In this article, we'll outline four great ways to stay fit during your break from running that are tailored to your long-term and short-term running goals.
Step one: Determine Why You Want to Take a Break From Running
Outline a specific set of goals you hope to achieve from your downtime. Do you need a mental break from just running all the time? Need a new set of challenges to keep you motivated? Want to give your legs a rest, or need to break out from an injury cycle?
More: Do Your Running Goals Match Your Reason for Running?
By determining first what you hope to achieve, you can better tailor your workouts to accomplish your goals and prepare for your return to running.
Let's look at two of the most common reasons for taking a break from running:
Recharge Mentally
There's no shame if running isn't your one-and-only passion. Many runners like to train for a race or two, but enjoy focusing on other sports throughout the year. Even when running is your be-all-end-all sport, there are still times when you're not all that motivated to train, like during the middle of the winter.