March and April training blocks are in full swing, and it is easy to get caught up dreaming about warmer weather, race day energy, and breakthrough performances. But February is often the quiet month that actually determines how those races unfold. If you have an early March goal, you may be putting the final touches on fitness right now, doing it in a stretch of the year when motivation can feel inconsistent and the excitement of January has faded. This is the part of the cycle where discipline matters more than hype. I know how tempting it can be to question your paces, your plan, or even your goal when workouts feel flat and the weather is uncooperative. But this month is not about chasing perfection. It is about laying the foundation that spring success will stand on.  Let's dive into this week's newsletter and our exciting 3rd episode of season 6 of the podcast!

It's finally February after what felt like 73 days of January and onto the second month of the year.  As we come back to the newsletter this week we are going to be hitting on some of the things that might pop up for you in February like some of the winter blues or what happens when you need to miss a week of training and tips to get you back on track.  This advice is the same advice I give my athletes and I promise you it proves to be more helpful when you need to ease back in versus some of the more aggressive tactics from AI driven training plans.  As I am sick this week, my plan is going through a big adjustment when I am finally healthy soon.

You may also love our conversation in the podcast down below with Alison Mariella Désir.  Let's dive into this week's newsletter!

As January comes to a close, I hope that whether it was here in the newsletter or over on Instagram, we helped you navigate what is often one of the most challenging months of the year for adult runners chasing big goals. January comes with a lot of noise. Pressure to start the year perfectly, run streaks, disrupted routines, weather, school closures, and the lingering effects of the holidays all compete for your attention.

As we move into February, the goal is not perfection. It is consistency you can build on. Peak fitness is still ahead, and the work you are doing now is laying the foundation for the months to come. Keep trusting the process and let’s carry this momentum forward.

Also, the Running Explained Podcast is back today. Be sure to check out our first episode of the season, and head over to Instagram to see some of the guests we have coming up next month. I hope you enjoy it.

Another week of training down and the shortest days of the year behind us we can start looking towards more sunlight.  This is always the time of the year I really try to put in the quiet work.  The runs that don't look special but just get the job done.  The projects that don't look like anything yet but you know you are figuring out the tough parts of it.  All the little things that down the road when you achieve the stuff you will have long forgotten about doing.  But they are the foundation you build to be able to accomplish those things.  So just trust that showing up and doing these things now are going to pay off down the road.  January is always the month for me when I can grind and know it's gonna mean something.

We are well into the new year now, past the point where you can still say “Happy New Year” to someone you have not seen yet. This past weekend brought the first major marathon of the season, the Houston Marathon, and it delivered one of those rare combinations of great weather, a fast course, and a lot of big performances and personal bests.

As we continue into 2026, it is becoming more and more clear that many runners are fitter than ever. When the weather cooperates, the times can be incredible. But when conditions turn, even the fittest runners can find themselves struggling. It can start to feel like luck plays a huge role on race day, especially when weather is involved.

That is exactly why it is so important not to place too much weight on a single race result. Perfect conditions or difficult ones do not erase the work you put in during an entire training block. I went through a stretch of nearly 16 months of consistent training without a single personal best, only to finally have the right day with the right conditions and see that fitness carry me through six months of PRs.

The work always shows up. Sometimes it just needs the right moment. Keep trusting the process and keep stacking the work.