You decide to enter a race that’s just a few short weeks away and are now trying to train in a condensed time frame.

The fix:

An upcoming event galvanises runners. Even if the period leading up to it is logically too short for their tried-and-true plan, they try to cram in the workouts that proved effective before.

That’s asking for trouble.

Go ahead and toe the line, but set your ego aside. Rather than trying for a PB, for example, choose to run just for fun or to help pace a slower friend. Above all, make a plan that is aspirational but plausible.

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