Steven Chasing Goals

Introduction:

Ah, the open trail! It beckons with a promise of adventure as your feet itch to dart over the earth. But wait, we’re not sprinting through this journey, we’re embracing the grace of a steady trot. Enter the realm of MAF (Maximum Aerobic Function) method, a philosophy that trades the high-octane rush for a rhythmic, aerobic embrace. Its mantra? “Slow down to speed up!” It’s not about the hustle to the finish line, but the harmonious dance of your heartbeat with the whispering wind. It’s aerobic training with a dash of patience and a sprinkle of consistency.

Now, as someone who once measured success in sweat droplets and panting breaths, stumbling upon the MAF method was like finding a serene trail amidst a bustling city of pace-obsessed runners. It’s a methodology that’s less about the sprint, more about the marathon. The sweet melody of a steady heartbeat became my new running rhythm, replacing the frenzied beat of pace-based runs. And oh, the poetic beauty of it!

But here’s where the plot takes a delightful twist. In the MAF script, we’re not chasing the pace, we’re romancing the time! Running by time, not pace, is like having a hearty conversation with the trail, rather than a breathless, hurried chat. It’s about soaking in every moment of the run, feeling the gravel beneath, admiring the blush of dawn, and letting the cool breeze kiss the sweat beads on your forehead. It’s not just running; it’s a rendezvous with the rhythm of nature.

Every stride is a narrative, every minute a story etched on the canvas of the trail. The newfound love for running blossomed not with the chase of pace, but with the embrace of time. The freedom to explore, to experience, to enjoy without the shackles of pace was liberating! Ah, the sweet, sweet freedom! With MAF and time as companions, the trail is not a racecourse, but a journey of discovery. And oh, what a delightful journey it promises to be!

The Beauty of Running by Time

Ah, the allure of pace, the chase of that elusive speed, it once held a grip on every stride, every breath. The pounding heart raced with the ticking stopwatch, a relentless competition. But then, a shift in perspective sauntered in, like a gentle breeze rustling through the autumn leaves, whispering a novel idea – how about running by time, not pace? It felt like unbuttoning a tight, tailored suit to slip into a breezy, comfy tee. The stern, unyielding face of pace was replaced by the gentle, forgiving hands of time. Oh, the liberation that ensued!

Now, imagine a fine dawn, the sky painted in soft hues of pink and orange. As you lace up and step out, the world is still rubbing the sleep from its eyes. You start your run, not with the pressure of pace, but with the promise of time. The path ahead is not a pressure-cooker of speed, but a canvas awaiting the strokes of your strides. With every step, the sun climbs higher, casting a warm, golden glow on the trail. The cool morning air is a sweet companion as you trot along, feeling a rhythm, a resonance with the waking world.

It’s a peculiar irony—running by time but feeling timeless. The clock ticks, but each tick escorts you into a realm where time expands, unfolds, and embraces you in its gentle flow. The rush to beat pace morphs into a graceful dance with time. You’re not racing against the clock; you’re running alongside it, basking in each moment that unfolds. It’s a tranquil tango that sets your spirit free, lets your heart soar with the eagles above, and your soul echo the timeless tales of the trail below. And as the world awakens, you’re not just running; you’re part of a beautiful, unfolding narrative, painted not in the harsh strokes of pace, but in the gentle, tender hues of time.

The Whys and Hows of MAF Time-Training

The philosophy of MAF (Maximum Aerobic Function) training is akin to crafting a beautiful, sturdy mansion. Oh, but we’re not hurling bricks together in haste; we’re laying each brick with care, ensuring a foundation so strong, it stands tall through the tempests and time. The essence? It’s not about the sprint, it’s about the marathon. Both, literally on the trail, and metaphorically in our training regime.

Now, gallop into the scene – the concept of timing runs instead of pacing them. It’s like choosing to stroll through a magnificent, sprawling garden, soaking in the beauty, rather than sprinting to touch every flower. By timing our runs, we align with the MAF principles of building a robust aerobic base, the cornerstone of our running mansion. It’s about nurturing, not rushing; growing, not sprinting!

Let’s jog down the ‘how’ lane. Running for time encourages a gentle, sustained effort, allowing the heart to maintain a steady, aerobic rhythm. It’s like serenading the heart into a gentle waltz rather than thrusting it into a frenzied rock n’ roll. This rhythmic trot helps in building a strong, sturdy aerobic base. It’s the crafting of a grand entrance to our running mansion, promising endless corridors of endurance, rooms filled with robust energy, and windows opening to vistas of vitality.

As the minutes roll by, not the miles, we’re not just building endurance; we’re forging a friendship with our heart, understanding its beats, its whispers, its rhythm. It’s a harmonious hymn that resonates through the sinews, muscles, and the very essence of our running spirit.

The whims of pace take a back seat, as the wisdom of time takes the wheel, steering us through the avenues of aerobic endurance, towards the mansion of mighty MAF achievements. It’s not a race, it’s a journey; a journey of discovery, of growth, of building a running legacy that stands the test of time, and pace! Oh, the places you’ll go when you let time lead the trot!

The Funny Side of the Track

Ah, the trails! They are not just paths of dirt and gravel; they are the stages where many a comedic drama unfolds. When you switch from the rigidity of pace to the serenity of time, the trails smirk, throwing in a dollop of whimsy into your runs. Like that one time, the sky decided to play dreary and pulled over a blanket of ominous clouds. The race was on! It was me against the mischievous rain cloud. As I trotted along, with every minute that ticked, the cloud showered a drizzle, urging me to hasten my trot. Oh, the giggles the trees must have shared witnessing the human versus cloud marathon!

And then there was the evening when I decided to race with the setting sun. It was a palette of golds, pinks, and blues playing hide and seek as I raced to catch the last rays before they bid adieu. The horizon kept the finish line, and oh, the playful competition it turned into. The sun dipped lower, and my feet tapped faster, a rhythmic dance with the cosmos!

Ah, but the comedy doesn’t end with nature’s whims. It waltzes into self-realizations too! The quirky competitiveness that springs up is a hoot. Oh, the games of one-upmanship we play with ourselves! “Oh, yesterday, I ran till the old oak tree, today, let’s make it to the creek,” says the inner whimsical runner, throwing gauntlets at every bend. It’s a merry game of chase, with oneself!

Running by time uncloaks a theatre of amusing anecdotes. It’s not just a training regime; it’s a ticket to a comedy show with a cast of one, and an audience of nature. Every run scripts a tale tickled with humor, splashed with colors of whimsy, and sprinkled with chuckles. And as the curtain falls with each run, the trails await the next act in the amusing drama of MAF time-training. Oh, the joy of the funny side of the track!

The Practical Perks

Oh, the practical side of running by time, it’s like having a friendly neighborhood GPS, always ready to guide you through the winding trails of your running journey. No more juggling complex pace calculations or getting entwined in the tentacles of speed metrics. It’s just you, the trail, and the gentle tick-tock of the clock. Planning runs becomes a breeze. It’s like sketching a simple, yet adventurous roadmap where each minute marks a milestone, each hour heralds a hallmark of progress.

Now, slide into the tracking shoes. Marking your progress is like flipping through a delightful photo album. Each run, a picturesque memory, each minute, a moment captured in the annals of aerobic achievements. It’s not about how fast you raced past the whispering willows, but how long you danced with the dapples of sunlight filtering through the leaves. The logbook of time-trained runs is not just a measure of progress; it’s a diary dotted with tales of endurance, consistency, and the blossoming friendship with one’s own breath.

And oh, the liberation from the shackles of pace! It’s like shedding a heavy backpack midway through a steep climb. The pressure to outdo the speed of yesterday, to chase the ghost of pace, vanishes into the thin trail air. What remains is the joy of movement, the thrill of endurance, the essence of running. The MAF time-training regime doesn’t just prevent a burnout; it lights a joyful fire under each stride, making the trail a playground, not a battlefield.

With the rhythm of time, the trail becomes a canvas of enjoyment, each run a brushstroke of sustainable training, painting a picture so vibrant, so joyful, it could make the sunflowers by the trail turn their heads in awe. The burnout blues bid goodbye, as the trails echo with the melodious tunes of burn-rubber-on-the-trail fun. Oh, the practical perks, they are not just perks; they are the cherries on the delightful cake of MAF training!

Conclusion:

Oh, the voyage from pace to time, it’s not just a shift in training routine, it’s a revelation, a blossoming of a novel relationship with the trails, the heartbeat, and the whisper of the wind. The MAF time-training has been like that wise old tree on the trail, offering a shade of understanding under which the joy of running bloomed anew. The obsession with pace gradually faded into the horizon, making way for a serene sunrise of time-led trots. The trails no longer a racetrack, but a companion, a confidante, a canvas of endless explorations.

The joy discovered in the rhythmic trotting with the hands of the clock is like finding a hidden trail that leads to a vista overlooking a valley of endless possibilities. The gentle guide of time has led not just to stronger legs, but a heart brimming with the love of running, a mind echoing with the music of endurance.

So dear reader, the trails are calling, the time is ticking, but in a friendly, encouraging cadence. Give it a whirl! Lace up those trusty running shoes, step onto the welcoming trail, and let the gentle hands of time lead the way. Let the minutes, not the miles, be the melody to which your running heart beats.

And as you trot along this new path, share your tales, your insights, your laughter with the community. The running world is a vast, vibrant field where every experience is a flower waiting to bloom. Whether you’re running or reveling in the camaraderie of fellow runners, every second is a seed of discovery, every minute a leaf of learning. Share your time-tales versus pace-chronicles and let’s create a garden of running narratives, each one unique, each one inspiring, each one a stride towards a community bounding with the joy of running. The trails are awaiting your tales, and oh, what stories they promise to be!

Check out my YouTube video on the subject

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