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New Series: What I Wish I Knew Sooner

Hey everyone! I’m starting a new mini-series on the blog called "What I Wish I Knew Sooner"—a space where I’ll be sharing honest reflections, advice, and little lessons I’ve learned throughout my years as an athlete.

Whether you're just getting into sports or have been training for a while, I hope these posts can give you something valuable—maybe even something I really wish someone had told me earlier.

We’re starting today with the first part: Training—how it evolves, how it feels, and what no one really tells you about the journey. Stay tuned for more posts soon on topics like nutrition, mental health, and avoiding burnout, with athlete spotlights and other fun posts in between!

What I Wish I Knew Sooner: Notes to My Younger Athlete Self

Training

Training started off as something fun. Depending on the age you get into running, the experience can feel really different—but I like to believe that deep down, everyone who sticks with it does so because they genuinely love it.

I started when I was ten, and back then, it felt like a game. I’ve always been super competitive, so I wanted to be better at everything—whether that was running laps, doing technique drills, or winning the little games we played at practice.

As I grew older, training turned into this mix of joy and pain.

 

It’s strange, but also kind of beautiful. You start craving that feeling of pushing your limits, even on the tough days. There are runs where everything hurts, others where your legs just fly, and some where you feel like you’re floating in a dream, barely conscious of how you’re even moving.

Over time, training becomes more structured and specific, especially when you focus on a certain distance or event. That’s when it gets exciting again—because now you know yourself better, what works for you, and what makes you faster or stronger. It’s not just about going hard all the time; it’s about being smart with your effort.

Listening to Your Body

When you’re a kid, it almost feels like you’re unbreakable. You can run and jump and do all the drills without ever really thinking about recovery. Injuries feel rare, your body bounces back overnight, and you don’t need foam rollers, massage guns, or fancy recovery tools—you’re just fresh all the time.

But as you get older and more competitive, things start to shift. Training hard is still part of the process, but so is training smart. That’s when recovery becomes a non-negotiable part of your routine.

Now I know that taking care of your body isn’t optional—it’s essential. Mobility exercises before runs help activate the right muscles and reduce the chance of injury. Stretching afterward keeps things loose and prevents stiffness. Foam rolling can feel like torture, but it helps release tight areas. And getting massages or using muscle recovery creams every now and then can make a huge difference in how you feel the next day.

Finding What Works For You

Another thing that changes over time is realizing that not everyone’s body responds to training the same way. For me, I’ve learned that doing high-intensity workouts on top of high mileage doesn’t work well. It leads to fatigue, or worse, injuries.

So with the help of my coach, we’ve found a rhythm that works better for me. We split some of my runs throughout the week, add cross-training sessions like biking or elliptical, and even use the Boost treadmill once a week to reduce impact while still getting quality work in. That way I’m still building fitness and improving, but in a way that protects my body and helps me stay consistent.

The truth is, everyone is different. Some athletes thrive off high mileage. Others need more rest between sessions. What matters most is learning to listen to your body and having a coach or support system that helps you figure out what’s best for you.

Training has so many layers, and the more you grow, the more you realize it's not just about how hard you go—it's about how smart you approach it. I’m still learning, but these are some of the things I wish I had known earlier.

Next up in this series, I’ll talk about nutrition—how it plays a bigger role than we think, and how finding a healthy, balanced relationship with food can truly elevate your performance and well-being.

Thanks for reading, and see you in the next one! 💫


Location: Peoria, IL, USA

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