Running and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Run Club Advice

THE 5 WORST PIECES OF RUNNING ADVICE OVERHEARD AT RUNNING CLUBS

aka Why you shouldn’t listen to that guy you ran with that one time. 

Hey, I love running clubs. I coach a lot of runners who train with them. I even tag along sometimes. But let’s be honest: between the sweaty high-fives and post-run snacks and all the awesomeness that is running with friends, there’s some truly terrible advice that floats around like that 8 year old GU packet that floats around the back of your car waiting for its day.

So let’s clear the air (and maybe save your knees while we’re at it):

Here are the 5 worst pieces of running advice I’ve heard:

❌Bad Advice #1: “Every run should be hard to build toughness.”

Oof. We get it, you follow David Goggins on Social Media. Grit! Grind! No pain, no gain! And there is something cool and valuable to those ideas, Except...that's not how training works. If you're hammering every run, you're not getting tougher—you’re getting tired (and probably slower). Training adaptations happen when you stress the body AND allow it to recover. Toughness isn't built by blowing yourself up every Tuesday. It’s built by consistency over time. (And yes, that includes a lot of easy running.) Don’t get me wrong, Grit and mental resolve are ABSOLUTELY VITAL to endurance athletes, but if you crush yourself every run you won’t be able to dig deep on race day.

❌Bad Advice #2: “You have to run every day.”

Look, running more often can help...if your body is handling the load and the runs have a purpose. But blindly chasing a "run streak" because your buddy is on Day 294? That’s how you collect injuries, not PR’s. Real strength comes from smart training, not just stringing together runs like a badge of honor. Rest days = training days, too.

❌Bad Advice #3: “If you’re not setting a PR at every race, something’s wrong.”

No, no, no. Progress isn’t linear. It’s messy. Training blocks build fitness. Racing tests it. Life happens in between. If you expect a PR every time you lace up a bib, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment and burnout. Sometimes the win is just showing up healthy and ready to race. (And sometimes it’s snagging a donut at the finish line and calling it a day.)

❌Bad Advice #4: “Speedwork is only for fast runners.”

Absolutely not. Speedwork is for everyone who wants to improve. Short, focused efforts make you more efficient, build strength, and keep training exciting. You don’t need to be "fast" to run fast intervals—you just need to do them at your effort level. 

❌Bad Advice #5: “Long slow runs don’t matter unless you're training for a marathon.”

Long runs aren’t just for the 26.2 crowd. They build aerobic capacity, mental endurance, and muscular resilience—stuff every runner needs, no matter the race distance (or if you're not racing at all). Skipping your long runs because you’re “only doing a 5K” is like skipping grammar class because you only want to write a book, you need the foundations people!  Trust me: those slow, steady miles are your secret weapon.

IN CLOSING: RUN SMART, NOT JUST HARD

Running is simple. But training well? That takes a little more strategy than just chasing the fastest guy at your run club every week. Smart runners know when to push, when to back off, and most importantly when to nod politely at bad advice and do what is right for you!

Training smart is about training in the way that is best for YOU, your body, your life, your goals, not however that woman who had the BAA jacket on but oddly only commented on other peoples run form and didn’t actually run … or now that I think of it, ever take the jacket off even though it was 95 degrees….. said you should train to get into Boston.

If you're tired of plateauing—or just wondering why your legs always feel like concrete by Thursday—let’s talk. Training with purpose changes the game.

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*Time Trial Tuesday posts are intended to be short primer posts to get you thinking, but they are also challenges for myself

to see how quickly and simply I can get the topic across to all of you. I give myself 5 minutes on the clock to write each one. No filter, No editing, Just the thoughts in my head..... Scary.

About Nick Farr

Nick is the owner and Head Coach at P3 Fitness and has been a dedicated triathlete and runner for over 20 years. With a passion for endurance sports, Nick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his coaching, specializing in triathlon, running, and cycling. As an accomplished athlete and certified multi-discipline coach, he has guided countless athletes to reach their personal bests and achieve their goals. In his role as a Triathlon coach at P3 Fitness, Nick is committed to helping each individual unlock their full potential through tailored training programs and expert guidance.