As the weather slowly turns from winter to spring, it's easy to get carried away in cranking up workouts.
Julie Fingar sees it all the time. The Loomis coach, trainer and race director said increased sunshine and warmer temperatures provide an opportunity for people to push themselves too far, too fast.
"Coming off the winter phase ... people are excited to get going, especially when the weather is really, really nice," she said.
"They get overzealous in wanting to up the mileage 20 percent, even more. The typical range is up to 10 percent, even 6-10 percent a week.
"People go way overboard with that. They also have a fear, if they're planning a race in May or June ... Overexcitement leads to injury."
Fingar, who has completed more than 100 ultramarathons and "15 or so" marathons, admits she sometimes struggles in holding herself back.
"That's why I have my own coaches to try and talk with me," she said.
Fingar said reading too much about fitness can sometimes get people into trouble.
"I remind my runners, just take it with a grain of salt," she said. "Everybody trains differently. Everybody's lives are different.
"Especially being a newbie, you're not really certain how far you can push physically. Increase your mileage consistently.
"Make sure you have your up weeks ... and your down weeks, too."
