Weekly Training Notes: Future You Has an Opinion

Practical training advice, athlete highlights, and lessons from real training blocks. Each week I send a short newsletter to my athletes with training tips, coaching notes, and shout-outs. The goal is simple: share things that actually help people train consistently and stay healthy while working toward their goals. Below is an excerpt from a recent newsletter.

Training Tip: Future You Has an Opinion

This is a part of the training cycle where things can feel a little inconsistent.

Some runs click. Others feel harder than they should. Motivation might not feel as automatic as it did a few weeks ago.

That’s normal.

It’s also a really important point in the process. Not because of any big, dramatic workouts, but because of the small decisions you make day to day.

Most training decisions don’t feel that important in the moment.

Skipping an easy run.
Cutting a workout short.
Letting a small ache linger without addressing it.

None of those feel like a big deal that day. But over time, they add up.

That’s where a simple mindset shift can help:

Instead of asking, “What do I feel like doing today?”
Ask, “What will I wish I had done 4–6 weeks from now?”

What This Looks Like in Practice

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about making slightly better decisions more often.

• Keeping easy days easy, even when you feel good
• Showing up for the run you almost skipped
• Adjusting early instead of pushing through something that’s getting worse
• Letting one off day stay just one day

Most people don’t struggle because they don’t know what to do. It usually comes down to small choices that stack up over time.

The Balance That Matters

There’s a flip side to this too.

Sometimes the right decision is to back off. To take a day off. To adjust the plan.

You don’t want to look back wishing you had done more. But you also don’t want to look back wishing you had listened to your body sooner.

The goal is to be honest in the moment so there’s no second-guessing later.

A Simple Check for This Week

At least once this week, pause before a run or workout and ask yourself:

Which version of me am I helping right now?

The one looking for short-term comfort, or the one that wants to feel ready on race day?

You won’t get it right every time. No one does.

But if you get a few more of those decisions right, it adds up in a big way.

Get the Weekly Training Notes

If you found this helpful, you can subscribe to my weekly newsletter below. I send one email a week with training insights, athlete highlights, and lessons pulled directly from real coaching situations.

Subscribe to the Weekly Training Notes →