A training plan for life
Not really. And that’s kind of the point.
Equilibrium Running is simply what a lot of people do instinctively, just written down. There’s no secret workout, no proprietary structure, no claim that this is the right way to run.
The difference isn’t the running. It’s the mindset.
E-Running gives you the language and permission to adjust your goals without guilt, panic, or the feeling that you’ve failed the plan. It formalizes common sense and listening to your body as a skill, not a cop-out. If you’re already doing that, congratulations! You’ve been E-Running the whole time.
No. It’s anti-rigidity.
Structure is useful. Discipline is useful. but they only work when they’re in conversation with reality. E-Running doesn’t remove structure, it softens the edges so structure can survive real life.
Skipping a run because you’re exhausted isn’t lack of discipline. Forcing a workout when you’re depleted isn’t toughness. Equilibrium is about choosing the option that keeps you training tomorrow, not just today.
Very naturally. Races give direction. They don’t override balance.
In E-Running, race training is still:
What changes is how strictly those elements are enforced. If life stress is high, training stress gets pulled back. If life is calm, training can expand. Missing a workout doesn’t trigger panic. It triggers assessment.
You still train for races. You can use whatever plan or structure you’d like. You just don’t sacrifice your health or your relationships for it.
Absolutely. In fact, this is one of the best ways to use E-Running.
You can use any plan you like and apply E-Running as the decision-making layer on top. That might mean:
The plan stops being a contract and becomes a tool.
No, but it does mean easy running is foundational. Easy running builds durability, aerobic capacity, and mental sustainability. Faster running still matters, especially for racing, but it’s layered on when it fits rather than forced in because the calendar says so.
In practice, that often means:
Intensity is valuable. Burnout is not.
Equilibrium Running asks you to adjust training based on how your body and mind are responding. For me, journaling is one way to make those signals easier to notice over time. Journaling is not a requirement.
If you do keep a journal, entries can be as simple as:
Or as detailed as you want:
Some days it’s logistics. Some days it’s reflection. Some days it’s just noting wildlife or unusual cars you saw. There’s no correct format. The value comes from consistency, not depth.
Even if you don’t keep a journal, you should listen to the signals from your body. Did you have discomfort, did it go away? When did it go away? Are there a pair of shoes or socks that always seem to bother you? Did you accomplish your goals, or did you make adjustments? If you made adjustments, how and why?
Feedback, both mentally and physically, are inherent parts of E-Running.
Both.
Beginners benefit from learning early that running doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Experienced runners often arrive at E-Running after discovering that fitness gained through suffering alone rarely lasts.
The philosophy scales with you. The balance point just moves.
Yup. 5K, 10K, 10M, 13.1, full marathon. See some examples here.