A week of training as an average runner

This week, I decided to film what my training looks like as an average runner and share it on YouTube (you can find the video below).

My weeks usually consist of 3-4 runs, a couple of gym sessions, and a bouldering session too. I find it's a nice balance between cardio and strength, along with technique and skill.

Tuesday

My first run of the week was an easy 5km at a pace that didn’t feel too challenging, one that I could have continued for quite a bit longer if I wanted to. I chatted a bit to the camera, which was a first for me! It’s actually much harder than I thought to talk while running, and I have a lot of respect for those who manage to do it mid-race. It’s definitely something I’ll keep working on. I also now have a better understanding of the extra shots that would add to the overall video, so I’ll be focusing on getting those next time.

Wednesday

I went to the gym with my fiancée, Amaya, and did a 44-minute treadmill run. Garmin often suggests workouts based on my current fitness level and past runs, and that day it recommended a 44-minute session, including 22 minutes at a heart rate of 165 beats per minute (bpm).

Running on the treadmill isn’t my favourite, especially for steady runs, but breaking it into sections made the time pass quicker. After that, we trained legs. Building leg strength helps improve running and reduces injury risk, so I’d definitely recommend incorporating some strength training into your routine.

Friday

We did a Hyrox-inspired workout to help Amaya train for her event on 6th April. This involved 5 x 1km runs at 5:00/km pace, with various exercises in between. We did burpees, squat dumbbell presses, rows, and farmers’ carries. It was a tough workout but really fun!

Breaking up the runs with exercises made them fly by, and it was a real challenge pushing through with tired legs. That’s not something you usually experience in the same way with running, so I think it’s a great way to build endurance and strengthen that "running on tired legs" feeling. After the session, we did some stretching before heading home for food!

Saturday

We decided to go bouldering today and had a blast! We haven’t been going as frequently lately with the half-marathon and Hyrox training, so when we do, it definitely feels tougher.

Bouldering is something I’ll always enjoy, no matter what level I’m climbing at. Even if I’m not feeling my strongest, it’s always a good time. I’ve learned not to be too hard on myself and to focus on doing my best on the day, rather than comparing myself to the past. When the time comes, I’ll put more effort into improving, but for now, I’m just happy to be climbing.

Sunday

The final day and the final run of the week; this time, a long run with my friend Sam, who I’ve been running with more recently. He knew a great route, and it was lovely! We’d planned to do an out-and-back run but decided to keep going to the next city over and get the tram or train back from there.

It was a beautiful way to start Sunday, and in the end, we ran over 17km; my longest run this year! It was tough, though, and I basically spent the rest of the day recovering. Long runs aren’t always my favourite, but they’re so rewarding and play a huge role in any training plan. These are the runs that build endurance and improve aerobic capacity.

Final Thoughts:

I had a lot of fun filming my training, and I got some great feedback from the video on what I can improve, as well as what worked well.

When it comes to YouTube, I just want to create and edit as much as possible, knowing that the more I do it, the better and faster I’ll become.

Thanks for reading, and keep on running!

Jamie Waller

Take a look at the video down below!