I'm Running More But Not Seeing Any Progress...Why?

If you're feeling stuck, like you've hit a performance plateau despite training hard, you may need to look beyond your mileage. The amount you're training doesn't always equate to a faster pace or a stronger run. Hitting a plateau in your running could mean it's time to...

Take a look at your nutrition

Under fueling is a common culprit for a plateau in performance. Under fueling may be a result of not meeting your total calorie needs each day to match your energy output as a runner. You can also be an under fueled athlete if you're missing certain pieces of your fueling plan ➡️ not getting enough carbs, skipping pre-run fuel, missing out on during run fueling, not optimizing your recovery nutrition, etc.

Low energy availability occurs when you are not getting enough nutrients to meet the demands of exercise and daily activities. This can impact both performance (hello performance plateau!) and health.

In a state of low energy availability, your body has to decide how to allocate the energy it does have. Should it prioritize muscle growth or pumping blood throughout the body? Ok it's not that simple and your body will always prioritize pumping blood, but it really does lack proper energy for daily function and start functioning in what I like to call low power mode.

When your phone goes into low power mode, it is shutting down certain functions to keep the battery running longer. When your body has low energy availability, it does the same. In low power mode, your body does not have the proper energy to build strength and endurance.

⭐️ interested in learning more? Check out The Ultimate Race Day Fueling Guide for guidance on pre, during, and post race fueling, carb loading, and more!

Look more closely at your running mechanics

According to my friends over at Prehab NYC, the efficiency in which you move plays a big role in pacing. If your running mechanics are off, your body has to work harder to maintain the same pace. Over time, poor running mechanics can even add

additional stress on your muscles and joints, resulting in injury.

You may be thinking (as am I), how can I know if my running mechanics are off when I can't see myself running? That is exactly why Prehab offers a running performance analysis to look at your running gait and improve efficiency.

⭐️ want to learn more about running mechanics and gait analysis? Be sure to check out this blog on the Prehab website.