When your training feels off, the instinct is to look for one clear reason. What changed? What went wrong? What do I need to fix?
But it’s rarely that simple. More often, it’s a combination of factors. If you missed it, we walked through a real example of how this can show up in training here.
Instead of trying to find the one answer, it can be more helpful to zoom out and look at a few key areas. Not to fix everything at once, but to start identifying where something may have shifted.
Start with What’s Changed
When things feel off, start by asking:
- What’s changed recently in your training?
- Has your fueling kept up with your training?
- How are you recovering between sessions?
- What else is your body managing right now?
Not just in your training, but across everything your body is managing. Often, the answer isn’t one big shift. It’s a few smaller ones that have added up.
Look at the Bigger Picture
From there, step back and look at a few core areas. Here’s a simple way to look at it:
Your training is usually the first place people look. Have your volume, intensity, or added sessions changed, even slightly? But it doesn’t stop there.
Then look at your fueling. Has your intake kept up with your training, not just around workouts but across the rest of your day?
Think about how you’re recovering between sessions. This includes sleep, but also how well you’re supporting your body day to day.
And finally, consider what else your body is managing. Work, schedule, mental load, and other life stress all count.
None of these need to be extreme to have an effect. Small shifts across multiple areas can add up quickly.
Why This Matters
When you look at these areas together, you start to see the bigger picture.
It’s not about finding the perfect answer. It’s about understanding what might be contributing so you can begin to make informed adjustments.
This is the lens we use in coaching when training starts to feel off.
Where to Start
You don’t need to change everything at once.
Start with what stands out. Even a small shift in one area can make a difference, as we saw earlier with the runner in our community.