Audit Your Old Training Plan (Before You Copy It Again)
Learn from the last cycle so you can train smarter this time around.
You’ve probably already followed some kind of plan—maybe for a race, a comeback, or a big fitness goal. You started with structure, stuck with it for a while, and saw some wins along the way.
But did it actually work?
Not just in terms of your finish time—but your stress levels, your recovery, your ability to stick with it consistently. Did it fit your life? Did it hold up when things got chaotic? Or did it eventually start cracking under the weight of unrealistic expectations?
Most people finish a race, take a break, then dive into the next thing by repeating the same structure that almost worked last time.
This article isn’t about starting over <don’t need to stay ‘this article’>. It’s about starting smarter.
Before you copy-paste your last training cycle, pause and break it down. What worked? What didn’t? What needs to change?
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein
What Worked? What Didn’t?
Before you build a new plan, you need to audit the last one.
Go back through your training log, calendar, or even just your memory—week by week if you can, for the last month or two. Don’t just look at what you did. Look at how it felt.
When did you feel strong and in rhythm?
When did you start dragging, skipping, or dreading sessions?
Were you hitting your targets but feeling wrecked the rest of the day?
Did your long runs build confidence—or just anxiety?
Now flip it:
What held up when life got messy?
What fell apart? Why?
Was it a time issue? A recovery issue? A motivation gap?
Don’t just look at numbers—look at patterns. Maybe the Wednesday workouts were always rushed. Maybe Sundays were too full to recover. Maybe three hard sessions a week was fine—until it wasn’t.
This isn’t about judgment. It’s about clarity.
The more you understand your last cycle, the more equipped you are to build something better this time.
Were You Training for Your Goals—or Someone Else’s?
This is the part most people skip—but it’s often the root of the problem.
Ask yourself: Why were you training the way you were? What were you actually trying to accomplish? And whose voice was influencing that goal?
Were you chasing a certain pace because it felt right—or because someone in your run club hit it first? Were you ramping up distance because you wanted to—or because it looked impressive on Strava? Were you pushing toward a race you weren’t even excited about—just because it was “next”?
Be honest: were you training for joy? For consistency? For control? For identity?
Or were you just trying to prove something?
Sometimes the plan fails because the goal was never yours to begin with. It was borrowed. Or copied. Or built on someone else’s timeline.
This time, get clear on what matters to you—not what looks good from the outside.
What do you actually want to feel more of? Confidence? Strength? Momentum? Simplicity?
Whatever it is—build around that.
Because if the goal isn’t yours, the plan won’t hold.
Set the Baseline for This Season
You can’t build an effective plan without knowing your baseline.
That starts with defining the season you’re in—not just in terms of race calendars, but in terms of life.
Your “season” is the mix of physical, emotional, and logistical variables you’re carrying right now. Are you in a high-stress work stretch? Coming back from injury? Navigating family demands or limited time? Or are you in a window where you actually can push harder and chase bigger goals?
This is where honesty matters most.
Instead of asking, “What’s the ideal plan for my next race?”
Ask: “What’s actually doable right now?”
How many days per week can you realistically train?
What types of activities and sessions fit your energy, time, and recovery?
When during the week do you want to feel strong—and when do you need margin?
You’re not being lazy by adjusting the load. You’re being smart by building from reality—not regret.
Because when you start with an honest baseline, you’re not behind. You’re just aligned.
And that’s what keeps you moving forward.
You don’t need to throw out everything from your last training cycle. But you do need to understand it.
What worked. What didn’t. What you were chasing—and whether it was even yours to begin with.
Training isn’t just about running more miles or following a tighter plan. It’s about building something that fits your body, your priorities, and your season—so you can stay consistent without burning out.
So before you jump into your next plan, pause and ask:
What would a smarter, more sustainable version of last season actually look like?
Answer that—and you’ve already started training better.