When you’re doing a lot of non-specific training in endurance sports, they sometimes call it “junk miles.” Maybe there’s a marathon coming up, you kinda stick to the program… but, you do a lot of “junk miles” in your running as well – you just get out and run.
You can probably guess a lot of coaches and athletes don’t like these “junk miles.” The quant-runner will have a specific heart rate zone or pace for each session. A particular “purpose” each time they go out.
There’s definitely truth in having intent in your training, but for most people, junk miles are still miles. And as long as you can recover, you can do just fine with a few junk miles in the mix.
It’s nice to think that if we want to learn a language, or become a writer we can listen to a perfect tape or read the right book, then set out with an exact plan.
In most settings and environments though, this isn’t how it works. One of the fastest ways to learn French is to throw yourself into the middle of a town where French is the only language.
Plans are important, and, getting on the court and doing the thing – junk miles or not – is what counts.
