BELIEVE: WEEK 2 'ON TO THE NEW YEAR' 5K

NOW THAT YOU STARTED EASING BACK INTO TRAINING the relaxed nature of this plan should be apparent.  The days of preparation between Thanksgiving and the December holidays are busy and may leave runners and walkers feeling uncharacteristically fatigued. That’s the reasoning behind the strategy of training on a “keep open” level of intensity.
 
In medical terms, life-saving fluids or medications might be delivered to a very ill patient through an intravenous (IV) tube or ‘line’ at a rate that is “wide open”, such that the valve regulating fluid flow rate does not obstruct the tube lumen at all.  This high flow rate is used in emergencies like shock or hemorrhage to maintain adequate blood volume within the heart and circulatory system and keep the blood pressure at optimum levels.
 
Lower rates of flow can be achieved as well. Once there is no need to deliver meds or fluids intravenously the needle and attached tubing apparatus can be removed. However, because it’s not always easy to re-establish this body portal for delivery of IV fluids in seriously ill patients, one practice is to leave it intact a bit longer, until there is no possible need for emergency IV access. The fluid flow in this time is set at a “keep open” rate, just enough to allow the line to stay open and potentially usable.
 
In similar fashion, the ‘On To The New Year’ plans are intended to maintain running and walking fitness levels built during the previous 10 week+ Turkey Trot programs.  There’s just enough running or walking to keep you in shape to comfortably run a 5k race again on New Year’s Eve or Day. It’s not designed to challenge you or help set a new personal best time (PR), but allow you to show up, have fun, and cross the finish line.
 
It’s also a way to avoid significant de-training over the holiday season, should you decide to pick up where you left off and begin working toward competing in a half marathon in Spring 2020, by following the upcoming “Saints Days” plan (checkout the 2019 plan on the RESOURCES page).
 
If you cannot locate a convenient nearby race to run or walk on these days, remember you can use your 2019 or request new 2020 Earned Runs Bibs for the occasion.
 
Believe that you became an athlete these past months by committing to a challenge goal, training according to plan, then competing, and that as an athlete can maintain fitness over the holiday season with a simple commitment to continue working at a ‘keep open’ rate.
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY
 
RUNNERS 'On To The New Year' 2019-2020 5K
WALKERS 'On To The New Year' 2019-2020 5K

Updated December 6, 2019