1) Double knot your shoestrings - although you can recover if you have to tie a loose shoestring, you end up losing valuable seconds AND it breaks your rhythm.
2) Use the valet key - if you attend a race solo, it is easier to tuck this one key into your pocket instead of carrying the entire set of keys which, for most people, is probably both heavy and cumbersome.
3) Tread cautiously at the starting line - there are some runners who start fast and some who start slow. Trying to weave your way through this can be a challenge. You don't want to roll an ankle so be careful!
4) Don't worry about the course layout - unless you think you will finish in the top 3, this is unnecessary. Why? Because the course is usually fairly well marked PLUS you can do what I do and just follow the runner in front of you.
5) Eat before the race - a granola bar or peanut butter toast and a banana one hour before the race usually works for me. Since most races are in the morning, you may feel like you can skip breakfast and eat afterwards. Don't do this. You need the fuel for your body.
6) Run your race - when other runners take off at the start, you may feel the need to over-exert yourself and keep up. While it is good to push yourself, just remember that everyone has trained differently and has different goals. You don't want to run out of gas after 2 miles with a little over 1 mile to go. Therefore, focus on exceeding the time you trained for. Remember, each race is a race against your best time (your PR or personal record). You won't beat your PR every race but it is a nice goal to have.
7) Finally, have fun! A 5K is a great distance that can be run by both young and old. It usually benefits a charity and can be achieved in a reasonable time frame. Training for one may not be the most enjoyable for some folks but once you actually run in the race, I'm betting you will be back for more.
No comments:
Post a Comment