Ironically, the best way to slow progress is to try to try too hard. Too often beginners get over motivated and do too much too soon, not giving the body time to recover and rebuild.

This is common. Virtually all training plans are set up in 7-day weeks. Nothing wrong with that, but it’s critical to understand that there is no reason to feel it’s necessary to move to the next week.

On the contrary, until you feel comfortable with a particular week’s training, please stick with that week. It matters not if you stay on that week for three weeks.

Let’s say, you’re going along, and you’re on Week 3 of some Beginner Training Program. What most people fail to understand is that there is absolutely no reason to feel compelled to do week 4 after Week 3.

If Week 3 is a challenge, then the beginner runner should repeat Week 3 until it isn’t a challenge any longer.

Failing to do this is one of the main ways people accidentally torpedo their own training.

That week may be pretty challenging the first week, but your body will recover by the next week if you give it time to rest by only walking on ‘non running’ days. As a result, the second time doing Week 3 will be easier, and in most cases, it’s then time to move to Week 4, but there is absolutely no reason not to hold back and repeat it a third week if it’s still a challenge.

I fear, sometimes people feel like repeating a week is somehow like repeating a grade in elementary school. They feel it means they somehow ‘failed’ the week. Get that out of your head right away.

Some people have done the same workout every week for years, people just running for fitness might run the same distance every day, every week, for years. This is not actually the best way to train, but my point is that they’re fine with it.

Never feel like you must move on to the next week’s workout in the schedule. Analyze how you feel during and after your workouts and decide whether to move on or not.

You are still gaining fitness. Every week that it is easier is a sign you are getting stronger, and that is all you should be asking of your body.

Remember, only compare yourself against the old you. Feel good about what you’re doing. You’re on the journey to a great place, to a new life, the life of a runner.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.