Wherever you are, it’s likely time to pull out different gear. Whether it’s getting warmer or cooler, November is transition time.
A quick glance at most national, regional, or local race sites will suggest that, in North America, there are fewer trail races for the next several months. For those who want to race, of course it’s possible to head to warmer/dryer places to test yourself or to combine a race with a vacation. Or to run a “Turkey Trot” on American Thanksgiving, weather permitting.
(Don’t overlook a Turkey Trot – they can be a lot of fun and also a good way to test your pace at a shorter distance. Plus, the food is often good.)
For many of us, however, this is a time to recover, refocus, and prepare. How you approach this transition season will impact how you’ll do next season and beyond. Vert.Run uses the phrase “Resting is Training.” It’s a concept that is beginning to catch on as we as a society start to understand how important recovery, and sleep, are to performance of any kind, not just on the trail.
Resting and recovery, however, does not mean you’re not active, however. It means you’re preparing mentally and physically while building your base for next season and the years after.
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Whether you’re chasing a new distance or just want to feel stronger on the trails, Vert.run has training plans built by expert coaches—designed for real life.
Talk With Your Coach
There’s a lot of information out there about trail running. It’s well meant and (probably) not entirely written using AI. But you have a resource that’s more powerful than some random AI program: Your Vert.Run coach.
Talking with them will help you come up with a practical, workable recovery program based on your needs, your schedule, your life, and your goals for the next season.
For instance, I signed up for a challenging (for me) race that takes place towards the end of March 2026. The race organizers have not changed the course, but they did change the time limit.
Unfortunately for me, the organizers reduced the time limit by 30 minutes. This is an entirely reasonable action, as only a few of us finished after the new time limit.
But it means I need to improve my time on the course if I want to finish within the time limit. And as I need to improve by more than just a few seconds per mile, I have to have a workable plan. Reaching out to my coach was the first step.
We put a plan in place that accounts for the weather (it’s soon to be the rainy season here) and my stats from the last race I ran. Part of that plan is rest.
Rebooting
Everyone, of course, is different, and everyone has different needs. What works for me might not work for you. This time, this season, might offer a chance to reboot and recover.
Rebooting doesn’t just mean physically. It also means mentally and emotionally also. It’s a chance to ask yourself how the year went. Be honest with yourself.
While you are reflecting, however, remember to give yourself the benefit of the doubt. Things happen. Maybe an injury two weeks before your ‘B’ race caused you to have to pull out. Or your child got sick the week of your ‘A’ race and you got no sleep before it.
But maybe it went well. You took on the challenges and did the work to the best of your ability. You put in the miles and the mobility and strength training time. Likely your year was somewhere in the middle. Some challenges, some triumphs, some things to think about doing differently next year.
All this can be part of your recovery process. One aspect that should also be addressed is that everyone’s enthusiasm fades at some point and everyone needs a break. Your coach knows this and can build it into your training.
Do Something Different, or Differently
Maybe you enjoy winter sports? Maybe you play a paddle sport, no matter if you’re good or not? Maybe you find swimming fun (I don’t but I’m envious of those who do, as it looks like an amazing workout). Maybe there’s a bike trainer or a rowing machine sitting unused somewhere.
Sometimes, especially during training, it’s easy to focus on getting ready for that next race. This is a chance to remind yourself that it can be fun to do other things.
The idea is that cross-training might be a good way to use this transitional time to give your mind and body the chance to recover while learning new skills and different ways of moving.
Your coach can help you get the best of both worlds: Something that is fun and helps improve some specific aspect of your running Maybe you want to go downhill faster or improve your pace – you can use this recovery and rebooting time to work on your goals while exploring something different.
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Gear Questions
Even with all the uncertainty surrounding costs and availability, this transition season offers the opportunity to take a good hard look at your gear.
- What worked this past season?
- What maybe didn’t live up to your expectations?
- Is that merino running shirt you got warm enough for cold days?
- How did your shoes perform on more technical trails?
Beyond the need to plan for cooler or colder temperatures, this is also a chance to think beyond your cold weather gear.
What will you need for the Spring and Summer? And beyond seasons, look at specifics.
If one of your upcoming races is, say, more technical than others, do you need different gear or to think about getting running poles? If the answer is yes, think about your break-in time. If you’re going to begin using running poles, a new watch, or a different type of hydration delivery system, it’s a good idea to give yourself some time to become familiar with the new equipment.
Also, let’s at least acknowledge that none of us know how the economy is going to go, at least in the United States. I’ve heard from people at a local running store that they are seeing and hearing of people buying multiple pairs of shoes they like now, just in case there are supply chain issues and price increases.
Better Starts Here
One of the amazing things about our sport is that every run is the next one. What happened last time, good or not so good, is something you can build on, learn from. Every time you hit the trailhead is a new opportunity.
This also applies to your off-season activities. Every time you lift a weight; every time you go swimming; every time you go play tennis is a new opportunity.
Resting is training is another way of reinforcing this practice. We know you’re serious about your running and training. That shouldn’t stop when you unlace your shoes or the Winter limits your opportunity to run outside. You can use this time to recover thoughtfully, to prepare, to come back to the trail reinvigorated.
Gratitude is also part of recovery. This is also a chance to remember that we’re fortunate to be able to do this. We may run alone but there are people supporting us, helping make the time available. Don’t forget them and that they are a key part of the journey.
Tony Edwards is a writer and trail runner in Northern California. You can read his Substack on trail running, life, and media here.
Train for your next trail race with Vert.run
Whether you’re chasing a new distance or just want to feel stronger on the trails, Vert.run has training plans built by expert coaches—designed for real life.
