With spring comes warmer temperatures but also rain! What I love about spring rain is how it washes away the snow, cleans up the streets and prepares us for summer. Running is more enjoyable again, instead of enduring some days. We’ve turned our clocks forward so we are getting more daylight and generally people just seem happier. We’ve made it through yet another winter. At least that is how I feel 🙂 Some people love winter, I do not hate it but it is the least favourite of the four seasons for me.
Sick and Tired
I cannot remember the last time I was sick, like at all, but it has been years. I was hit with what seems to be a cold almost 2 weeks ago now. Started with a severe headache but seems to be mainly a dry cough and heavy/congested chest. It makes running a wee bit more challenging. I was so sick last week and not sleeping well, that I was not able to run at all. It was a challenge just breathing so running was not wise. I felt better for my long runs on the weekend so on Saturday I tackled 23K with a friend. It was good. The weather was beautiful, the sun was out and overall we did great. By that evening, I was coughing up a storm and struggling to sleep. I had decided to skip Sunday’s long run as we need to be wise when we are sick, sometimes the body needs the recovery time more. I woke up, after a few hours sleep, feeling pretty good so I decided to get out for my run while I could. Another 23K was completed, and it wasn’t pretty. The first 10Km’s were pretty good, the in between was becoming a struggle and the last 5km’s were down right challenging. My legs were tired!
Training and Learning
Sundays run was difficult but was a fantastic training run because I learned a few things:
I’m mentally tough – I whine in my head but I get it done.
I figured out what genuine tired legs felt like and it’s okay to push on tired legs.
Tapping into why you run or why you are training for long distance really helps when it gets tough.
It’s great to save music for when you really need to zone out or be motivated by a good beat.
I recovered better and faster than I usually do, which means I am getting stronger.
Life is busier than ever and going to get even busier for the next 2 months or so. Figuring out how to cross-train is going to be even tougher as the weeks progress.
My goals for the next few weeks are to include yoga and strength training into my weekly training.
I’m also working on a few fundraising ideas for April and May. My coach has just returned from his own amazing epic adventure so we will be kicking up my training even more in the weeks to come.
It’s an adventure 🙂
How do you fit it in? What kind of cross-training do you include with your running?
There are so many reasons why “life can get in the way” of our own fitness/running goals. Have you heard these comments, or perhaps even said them yourself?
I’m too busy, I just do not have time
My kids are to young, it’s difficult with them around
I can’t afford a gym membership
my spouse/partner is not supportive of my goals
I’m a single parent and do not have any support
As mentioned in my previous post, we all have 24hrs in a day. However, we all live very different lives mostly. So how can we balance our lives in order to achieve our goals. First up, know what your goal is. Do you want to workout 3x/week? Do you want to learn to run? Run a goal race? Know your goal and then write it down.
For myself, I tend to look at seasons and I’m about to enter a slightly more relaxed season but I do not want to lose my consistency with running, my base. However, I will be adding in home workouts for variety and strength training. I highlight any races coming up with purple, my running days get highlighted in orange and the rest just get marked on the calendar. This is my “plan”, but if I have to adjust I just change it on the calendar 🙂 We cannot always control our lives, but making “appointments” for ourselves helps us to intend to get them done!
As you can see, I have 3 races in October and two marathons! So I’m actually slowing down with my running to get ready for those bigger races. However, I still want to be working out, more yoga/piyo and some running.
There are a number of challenges we are faced with as mentioned above. I’ve chatted with a number of people about this topic. Some ride/run to work, others get it done over their lunch hour, or hit the gym on the way home from work. Some single parents put their heavy workout schedule on the week their ex has the children. The challenges are real, here are few more tips:
Ray shares: (Adventure Runner; both parents running long distances)
It’s about recognizing that you both have goals. Respecting each other and stepping in where you need to, in order to make it happen. Getting the runs in where ever they fit in for that day. Sometimes that means an exceptionally early run, running when the girls are at school or one parent prepping dinner, hanging with the girls while the other gets a run in. Whatever works! Working together as a team!
What I find tough is finding time to run and trying to adjust to à new way of life. So far I have switched to running at lunch and after work (run home) so when I arrive at home I am ready for daddy duties. On the weekends I now run when I can, not always when I want to lol. Now that Morgane is 4-months old I have just started running with her in the stroller and this allows me to run with my daughter but also give mom à break at the same time. As an uber new dad, I have been able to train and got quite fit but dad duties, family stress with new baby and adapting to everything made races almost impossible. I ran one 5k and had to bail on planned fall marathon. BUT happy, have great family and still running. I think there is always a way to find time to run, but its about being flexible, adapting to à new lifestyle and defining your priorities and determining your goals and what is important to you.
Brent writes: (Brent and his wife are new runners)
Having two boys 5 and 7 it’s a bit more of a challenge for us but a good jogging stroller and two tablets keep them happy for an hour or so. Most of the time my wife goes for a run at 6pm when I get home from work and I go at 9pm when the kids are asleep. We have had the luxury of my mother in law being available to watch the kids for us to do full day events.
Laurie Ann writes: (Author, Mom and Outdoor Adventurer)
Parenting and fitness is a tag-team, juggling event in our household. During the weekdays I am often like a single Mom with Bryan’s travel schedule. I have Fridays off so during the school year I am able to hit the gym with a friend and now that my son is old enough he can watch my daughter from time to time. Bryan and I also take turns plus we do fit things that include the kids. After all, they need to keep moving too. When my daughter was little we used the running stroller and a bike trailer. When our son was 11 or 12 he’d cycle back and forth on the trail while I ran or he’d run with one of us. When he wasn’t old enough to babysit on his own he’d watch a movie with my daughter in the same room as my treadmill and I’d run with them in view. When Bryan and I would run at the track I’d start my run and then he’d show up later with the kids. They’d run with us for a bit and then we’d walk while Bry finished his run.
Oh and with the stroller… a MEC Newt Suit is indispensable. Kaia would sit in her stroller and even in the worst weather that one piece rain suit would keep her toasty dry.
Challenges? Getting homework done is my number one (why so much, whyyyy??!!). My number 2 would be getting the laundry, groceries and any other household task done that I can’t accomplish during the week. Especially when the Sunday distances are long. Sometimes, it’s 2 o’clock by the time I’m cleaned up and fed. That reduces my weekends to just under 1.5 days.
So how do we manage? Barely. LOL! I do the bulk of my running during the lunch hour. He runs after work while I get dinner on the table. He cleans up my mess while I do homework with the little one and make sure the teenager is on top of his workload. We tag team the chores on the weekend. And meal planning is key! If I’m lucky, I can get a pot of soup, sauce or chill on the go Sunday afternoon so weeknight dinners are easier.
Jennifer writes: (mom and business owner)
It is super hard to make time for fitness as a mom of little ones. I only started when my youngest was 2yrs old, prior to that I just couldn’t get it together! But once my little one was in daycare it gave me much more time freedom. As soon as I started I became happier and much more productive in all areas of life. I realized that fitness/running/being outdoors gave me time to be alone, focus on my dreams and goals and in turn be a better mom and wife. It really changed my life. In terms of time management, I only work out Monday to Friday so that my weekends are free to spend time with the kids. School/daycare are my saviors!
Find out more about Jennifer and follower her blog.
Cathy writes: (mom of fur babies)
My hubby and I don’t have kids, but we are joint owners of a small business and our needy 3 dogs (one very senior, 2 rescues with separation anxiety). For me, I have a very understanding husband who knows how important running is to me. He is willing to ‘hold down the fort’ for my long run on Saturday. I do the same on Sunday but for him it is so he can work. During the week, I combine my run, walk or cycle with my commute to work. So I do arrive to work later than he does (he drives and brings the doggies) but again, he is very understanding and the amount of time for this varies depending on the season/closeness to a race.
So as you can see, regardless of who you are, what challenges you have, what you do for a living or the goals you set for yourself, if you want something bad enough you’ll figure out a way to make it work. It’s often not easy, sacrifices often need to be made but you can figure out what can work for you. The key is to know what you want to accomplish, set a goal and then work towards achieving that goal.
my daughter keeping me company on the bike path
Getting fit can also be done with your family. Planned hikes, workouts at the park, kids riding alongside you as you run. Be creative, have fun and find what you love to do!
Lastly, for those that find that they cannot afford a gym membership or that they struggle with getting to the gym at the times available for group classes, here are a few of my favourite home workouts.
PiYo (great for body strength exercises and a fantastic workout compliment workout for runners).
21 Day Fix (focuses on portion control with your diet and has a great mix of workouts to jump start anyone looking for a great workout).
I have a ton of dvd’s I rotate through but I seem to come back to these two often.
Do you have a tip on how you fit in your workouts/running with a busy life? I’d love to hear about it!
Last post I revealed that I’m a numbers girl. Maybe because I’m a visual learner and numbers help me see how I’m progressing and how I can improve. I like tracking my runs and have recently started tracking my calories (ratio of fats, carbs and protein). It’s at this stage in my marathon training where my nutrition counts the most. Not just for fuelling my body for proper energy but also eating the right foods to help with recovery.
I usually run by “feel”, however I get excited when my coach lays out a training schedule that includes specific pace targets (numbers), doing ladders (progressing from slow to fast and back down to slow, repeats), etc. I haven’t done any speed work this summer as we have been avoiding injury focusing on getting healthy. Another thing with numbers, does anyone else round up their runs? I mean, heaven forbid stopping at 10.23km, at that point I must continue to make it an even 11km! I usually just add a bit to round it off to a nice even number. Yesterdays run I was at 13.32km and had to round it up to a 14km run. 🙂
I like having a schedule and working with a plan. I set goals and then work backwards to make a schedule that allows me to complete my goal. I can be flexible with where I run, who I run with, most times at what pace I will run at, etc. However, I need to know what the overall month looks like so I can work it into my life. I usually have my races/goals figured out well in advance. This is the first time I can remember still working out fall races. I’m in a transition of moving towards more trail running. After running the Niagara 50K, the focus was on getting healthy. I had been dealing with nagging lower leg issues and my coach believed trail running would be beneficial to my overall running (I think he was setting me up, personally). 😉
Turns out I’m pretty good at it. I love being out on the trails and it has helped me tremendously! I’m not about to win any races anytime soon, but I’m pain-free and having fun. Just this past weekend I ran the I2P Run which celebrates trail running and supports Impossible to Possible. Last year I ran the 23K as a great introduction to the race. This year my coach suggested I run the 15K to experience the more technical trails of the race. Next year I will do either the 50K or 100K! Just putting that out there.
I am finally ready to add some more intentional focus on training. We’ve been in a “let’s stay healthy and build up slowly” mode for almost 2 months. Clearly it worked!
I’ve been going back and forth on whether I can/should run back to back marathons in the fall. It was a Spring goal I had that was replaced with running the Ultra instead (3 weeks after my Spring marathon). I’m still undecided but am leaning towards doing my marathon and following it with the MEC half marathon (a challenge on it’s own), with the option of doing the marathon if I decide I’m able to.
Run Ottawa has organized the first-ever Girls Run Ottawa, a new race for all women in the National Capital Region. The goal is to bring together women of all ages to build a social circle based around physical activity and having fun.
MEC Ottawa presents THE 2015 must do bucket list race in the Ottawa/Gatineau region. Lots of people are talking about this race. It promises to be challenging and incredibly beautiful.
I can’t remember when I started this tradition but it is a great way to finish off the year. Also, this year’s vest and hat combination is awesome.
The Army Run (Sept. 20) is still up for debate but regardless I will volunteer at the event. I decided this year that I wanted to support more local runs. I became a member of Run Ottawa and I’m looking at more events with MEC Ottawa.
Speaking of MEC, there are sales going on right now and I just ran with this awesome tank (happens to be on sale!) and it just might be my new favourite!
Of all the races, I think the MEC race is the one that I’m more nervous excited about. I like that! It means that I’m continuing to challenge myself and doing things that scare me just a little. I love that MEC has training groups to help encourage people just starting out with trail running.
Knowing I have the MEC race coming up and that it is a hilly route has motivated me to not skip my hill workouts!
What are your fall goals/races? How do you continue to challenge yourself?
Living in Ottawa, Canada means that I am blessed with four seasons. My favourite season, for many reasons, is fall. Running year round means having a collection of gear, accessories, seasonal clothing and a multitude of tried and true tips/tricks that I’ve learned over the years.
I love the running community! It is a place where everyone runs for different reasons, has their own motivation and goals. Some are just starting out, others have been running their whole lives. It is a community where we share experiences, knowledge and simply the joy or love for running. I know a number of recreational runners. However, most of the runners I hang out with have a schedule, are training towards a specific goal/race and have acquired a lot of stuff! Let’s face it, there is a ton of amazing running gadgets, gear, equipment, clothing, etc. that just makes running better!
Sunglasses
I run outside all year round, this means I’m exposed to all kinds of weather conditions. I have a hard time finding sunglasses that fit properly (What can I say, I have unique facial features 😉 ). I came across Sundog Eyewear Sunglasses at a race expo and immediately fell in love with the fit. I found them late fall and wore them throughout the winter!
helps keep wind and snow out of my eyes (vented so they do not fog up)
My past sunglasses have fogged up during some cold winter conditions, but the Sundog sunglasses were vented just right and did not fog up.
I purchased two more pair at the next expo and haven’t worn a different brand since. I now have several pairs, in a variety of styles and colours. Every pair is awesome and allows me to match with headbands, etc. when I feel like it. (seriously I’m not usually a girly girl or do I care to be all matchy matchy but with running if I can, why not)!
There are a host of other reasons to love Sundog Sunglasses. Sundog is committed to offering outstanding value, impeccable styling, dependability and superior protection from the elements. I have found all of these things to be 100% true!
They are passionate about style but driven to provide their customers with the very best in eye protection and focus on being a leader when it comes to technology. I’ll leave the details of their technology to them by encouraging you to read about the technology behind their lenses.
I will say that there is an obvious difference in their lenses. I often forget I’m even wearing sunglasses. They simply provide more visual clarity than anything I have ever worn before.
I recently decided to try their more casual line of sunglasses. I love the look of the aviator sunglasses but could never find a pair to fit properly. They are always too big for my face, either overpowering my face or fitting too loose to fit securely. I now have 3 pairs of aviator style sunglasses from Sundog and all three pair fit beautifully and I feel good wearing them.
So whether I’m running, driving, walking the dogs or simply out enjoying the sunshine, I can be found sporting a pair of Sundog Sunglasses.
Heart Rate Monitor
Something perhaps unknown about me, is I have a weird obsession with numbers. Even during mundane tasks I catch myself counting. So it’s no surprise to me that I also like numbers when it comes to running. I like to track my kilometres throughout the year/month/week. I appreciate knowing what my current pace is and my average pace after a long run. I use the Runkeeper app to track my distance during a run and to keep a record of my overall km’s. I also use my Garmin to monitor my pace during my runs. Most recently I’ve been keeping a record of my heart rate during my training runs. I love learning more about myself and how I can improve. My latest “gadget/accessory” is the Mio Strapless Heart Rate Monitor. I never ran with a heart rate monitor, as the few times I attempted to, I had to use one with a strap and I would chafe. After discovering the Mio Heartrate Monitor I am now consistently using it to monitor my training zones and to get more out of my training. I was able to pair the Mio heart rate monitor with Runkeeper so now my heart rate details are also being logged. The monitor has the ability to monitor my heart rate, track calories burned, track distance, speed and pace. It can also be linked to a variety of apps (using bluetooth 4.0 transmission), it can be used as a watch or as a timer. Also, it has a battery life of 20hrs. Speaking of holding a charge, how easy is this to charge the monitor?!
USB plugs easily into your computer (or anywhere reallY)
Mio Heart Rate Monitors also play well with others! Here is a list of apps that are compatible: Apps
However, it isn’t necessary as there is a Mio Go App that you can pair with your wristband to track your heart rate, pace and distance, including a map and other cool features. I’m still in transition from using some old favourites and discovering all the cool features of this new amazing equipment. Find out how you can train smarter with a Mio Heart Rate Monitor: Why is Heart Rate Training Important?
I have a small wrist and was not sure how the band was going to fit. Turns out you wear it a little higher on the forearm. It is very comfortable and I forget I’m wearing it. The face of the band is large enough to see a variety of the features available. The Mio Go App will allow you to explore even more features. There are simply way too many things about this heart rate monitor that I love to get into but seriously, go check out their website and have a look around.
Worth mentioning is the blue, green and red light that is easily visible while I’m running. It tells me when I’m running below (blue), within (green) and above (red) my target heart rate zones. This helps me to adjust my run accordingly just with a glance down at my wrist.
I absolutely love the possibilities of this heart rate monitor to enhance all my training needs! I was so impressed with this product that I reached out to the company and became an ambassador! You can order a heart rate monitor of your choice here: Mio Global. (see below on how you can save 25%)
I truly love both of these products and believe in them so much that I asked for a special discount for my readers to try for themselves. Message me if you’d like to get the discounts.
Full Disclosure: After purchasing 3 pairs of Sundog sunglasses I was provided with a few pairs to do a review on. In addition I was provided with the heart rate monitor to do an honest review and have since become an ambassador.
If you have ever trained for a race then you know it’s so much more than just putting miles in. Depending on the distance you are training for, it can also require you to be mentally ready. There is a quote that I love. “Run the first two-thirds of the race with your head and the last third with your heart.” – Unknown
When I was training for my first marathon I was told to expect to run 2 races. The first 32 km’s and the final 10 km’s. Sometime during the race it becomes about what you want. You draw from the countless hours of training, you reach down deep within you to draw the strength that you need to complete it. It is no longer just physical, you need your mind (right thinking) and heart (the will) to get through.
Every race distance requires preparation, and I believe to prepare you need to set some goals. Is it a specific time you want to come in under? Are you running it with friends and just for fun? Are you doing a new distance and just want to complete it upright and smiling? The first step is to decide what you want to achieve from the race you just signed up for.
Then, get a schedule. Whether you join a run clinic, pick up a good book or find a schedule online, you need to plan for it. My favourite race distance is the marathon. It’s a 16 week schedule, running 4-5 times a week. I’m pretty consistent and usually run 5 days a week with Mondays and Fridays off. My long run is on the weekend and I add to the distance every week.
It’s not enough to have a schedule, though. You need to make a commitment to stick to the schedule. Sometimes you have to plan life around your runs, or plan your run around your life but if you do not put a priority on your training runs, life does get in the way. You have to decide it is important. I am blessed to have my family’s full support. Once you start training for a half-marathon or marathon the time commitment can be taxing for some. For some people, getting up in the morning before their families are awake is the best time to get a run in. Others do it on their lunch hours. The long run can be the most challenging as you can be out running for hours! The key is figuring out what works best for you (and your family). In addition to my schedule, I plan when I’m going for my run. I look a week ahead and plan it accordingly. So if someone has an appointment or there is a family commitment coming up, I’m not surprised by this and my run gets done.
It’s not just about the running. If you want to do well, it should also be about nutrition. Some people figure that running allows them to eat anything they want. But for myself, the more I run, the more focused I become on fuelling my body with food that serves a purpose. It doesn’t happen overnight but you can learn how food can support you and aid you by providing energy and also helping you with recovery.
The mind also plays a vital role in running a race. During training runs, using visualization can help prepare your mind for the race. How do you want race day to go? What are your ideal running conditions? Can you visualize your friends and family members cheering for you? Self-talk is also very useful. When you are on a long run and everything about it is awful, remind yourself why you are doing this. Remember the feeling you will have after getting it done, or knowing the sense of accomplishment that you will have for sticking to it and not giving up. It’s helpful to write down some favourite quotes, your reason why you want to accomplish this running goal/race. When you are out on a run if everything about it is perfect, write down what was so perfect about it. Draw on that memory when things get hard.
I think for everyone, the race is about completing it. As you evolve as a runner you begin to set different goals. At least for myself, I set a few goals for each race. Regardless, I think you need to be proud of every race, no matter the outcome. If you trained, committed to the training process and gave it your best on race day, then you need to celebrate that. We cannot control a lot of things on race day, but we can give it our best.
I am nowhere near the runner that I was when I first started out. I started out walking by participating in a 60Km walk for breast cancer. Eventually, walking turned into running. From there my girlfriend invited me to run a 5K. I enjoyed running and loved to challenge myself. I started out just completing the events and I would raise $ for a cause and take in the experience. Then 5K’s turned into 10K’s, and eventually I was running half-marathons. Most of the time I trained on my own. I seriously loved the challenge physically and mentally. I felt accomplished when I set a goal to run a race, trained for it and completed it.
It was during my first marathon training that I decided to go out of my comfort zone and join a run club. As my runs were getting longer and longer, I was wanting company in part to help distract from the long run but also for safety reasons. I wanted to run along the river and other more isolated areas. Joining the Running Room for their free running clinics allowed me to make new friends and learn from the experiences of others. It also connected me to a running community to share my love for running.
I’ve learned that when you commit to your training, you need to trust in that training. My very first marathon was out of town and I forgot my marathon bag! I ended up running the marathon with all new gear (yes, every runners nightmare). You can read more about that here: Forgotten Marathon Bag
You can do everything right, you can eat properly, train properly and still race day can be unpredictable. I’ve learned that it’s good to set goals and push yourself for a personal best or a bigger distance. In the end though, you need to be proud of all the moments, of the journey to get to the start line. During the race, take in the moments, learn from what the day offers you.
I’ve learned to be thankful that I get to run. I’m constantly challenging myself with new goals and race distances. I’m about to run my first Ultra (50K) on June 20th. I’ve also learned to accept that every race offers a new experience. Even if I do not get a pb, I can be proud of the day because of the choices I made either leading up to the race OR during the race itself.
In my last race I had the opportunity to finish with a pb (although it was a tough race). Instead I chose to run in with a friend who was struggling, because in the end that seemed to be more important. I walked away proud of my decision. If you’d like to read about my last race experience you can read it here: Ottawa Race Weekend
How about you? Are you training for your first race? Have you set specific goals for yourself? If you’ve been running for a while, how have you evolved as a runner?
Crazy excited is an understatement! I am so looking forward to running the marathon in my home town. Although I will likely need to keep it slow and steady, not getting any personal bests in terms of my time, I’m still excited to run. I’ve been dealing with lower leg issues for over 6 weeks now and do not have any power. I’ve pulled back in hopes of giving them some rest. I still have 2 goal races to get done in June so I want to prevent a serious injury.
Preparing for Race Day
So what can be done leading up to race weekend? Here are a few of the things I’m spending my time doing. I hope it helps you as well.
1. Hydrate/Fuel
Do not wait for the night before the race to eat well. You should be drinking more water and eating well most days, but at the very least, the week(s) leading up to your race. Make sure you are loading up on healthy carbohydrates (avoid sugary zero nutrient junk), lean protein and fresh fruits/veggies. Some of the things I like to eat are: bean patties, oatmeal, chicken breast, salmon, rice, quinoa, fresh fruit (snack mid-morning), salads and sweet potatoes. Also, get some good fats in your diet. Avocado and hummus are great for sides or dipping. I will often add hummus as a side to my bean patties and use it as a dip for fresh cut veggies.
Recipe for bean patties:
can of black beans
1/4 cup oats (I use steel cut ground up)
diced onion (optional)
cumin (to taste)
Bragg’s Liquid (few sprays or 1.5 tsp)
salt/pepper (to taste)
I throw it all in a food processor and then make 4 patties. I’ve also used a potato masher and mashed the beans then added the rest of the ingredients. Add some coconut oil to the fry pan and cook the patties at a medium-high heat, both sides. It makes 4 patties.
2. Rest/Stretch
Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Aim for 7-8hrs a night if you can. Your diet and sleep are important aspects of recovery. I also take extra time to stretch/do yoga once or twice in the week. You want to be relaxed and ready for race day.
3. Playlist
Some people prefer listening to the music they trained with. I personally like to mix it up with a few new songs sprinkled throughout my playlist. Do not leave this to the night before. Trust me. I have had unnecessary stress trying to get my playlist organized the night before a race. Usually, I scrap the idea and run with what I have. Not this time. Got it all done a week ahead of time. 😉
4. Race Day Fuel, Gear and Clothes
I like to plan what I am wearing ahead of time. You should have already practiced with some long runs, but knowing what you are wearing ensures that it will be clean for race day. The same goes for your fuel. Now is the time to do a quick inventory of what you have and go buy anything you will need. Or, write a list and pick it up at the expo (but I like having everything prepared before hand). This way there are no last minute panics.
5. Laying It Out
There is a reason a lot of us do Flat Race Runfies – having everything laid out and ready to throw on first thing in the morning gives peace of mind in knowing that you have everything you need for the race. I use my dining room table to lay out my clothes, gear, fuel, electrolytes, etc. I do not want to miss anything. Once I have everything ready, I lay out my race day clothes and take my “flat runner”. 🙂
When I head out in the morning for a race, I’m wearing or carrying everything I will need. Besides, you’ll sleep better knowing it is all together.
6. Organize Meet Ups
If you are planning on meeting friends and/or family prior to the race or afterwards, choose that spot ahead of time. Figure out where the road closures will be. How are you arriving on race day? Plan these details out in advance to make it easier and less stressful on race day.
7. Trust Your Training
My last piece of advice would be to trust your training. Regardless of the distance you are running, if you followed a plan, know that the training will get you to the finish line. There can be a lot of variables on race day that you cannot control, so don’t try to. When you get up, deal with the weather and dress accordingly, but do not let that sideline you from doing your best. Get to the start line, believe in yourself and have fun! No matter what your time is, whether it turns out to be your best run ever or perhaps your worst, I guarantee you’ll learn something from it. Celebrate the hard work you’ve put in and be proud of your well earned medal.
These are the things I like to do ahead of time, as it seems to work for me. Are there things you do that work better for you? Is there a tip you’d share with someone running their first race?
