Don't underestimate the importance of easy days. Easy days help you beat fatigue, to keep fatigue from beating you.

Consistency requires discipline. Force yourself out the door. It is easy to take a day off when things get hectic. A day or two off here and there won't hurt, but skipping workouts too often will. To succeed as a competitive runner, you need to be a little compulsive about getting in your daily run. If possible, schedule runs for the same time every day; make it an important appointment with yourself. Set weekly goals, and stick with them.