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Nov
20
Road Racing
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After completing my first half-marathon on November 1st the first thing I said was, “That was horrible.” For the first time ever, I had walked in a race. When I told my parents about my expirience later that day they told me I did great and I should be happy that i could just finish it. But I knew why I walked.
During the cross country season I had run 6 days a week consistently and did speed workouts, easy days, and honestly just whatever the coach said. The week of the half-marathon I didn’t do squat. Laziness and over-confidence kept me from performing at my best and it hurt at the finish line. (see picture)
When signing up for a road race, don’t forget that this is a race like any other. Race to get a new PR, or to meet a goal of your own. Remember to train for the race you are running; when I trained for the Zeitgeist Half Marathon I ran under thirty minutes for a week… not something I would recommend.
Training for a long race, or a fast race is hard work. Here is a quote from Sir Roger Bannister fitting for this:
“The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.”
I would just like to change the word ‘win’ to ‘meet goals’. Running is not about winning all the time, but it is about self-improvement.
If you have never run a race unattached, take some initiative and sign up for one! Find a fun run or a race for a cause you support, you will enjoy it (with the proper training).
Sep
15
The Race
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A teacher of mine showed this poem to me, and I absolutely loved it.
The Race
By Dee H. Groberg
“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They shout at me, and plead
“There’s just too much against you now.
This time you can’t succeed.”
And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure’s face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
For, just the thought of that short race
Rejuvenates my being.
A children’s race, young boys, young men
Now, I remember well,
Excitement, sure! But also fear,
It wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race,
Or, tie for first, if not that,
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad,
that he would be the one.
Aug
31
The Day Before
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There are many opinions on what you should do on the day before a race. Here I have put together a list of what I do before an event to be prepared.
- Get at least nine hours of sleep two nights in a row! Two good nights rest makes quite a difference versus one night of rest.
- Eat healthy the day before. Have complex carbohydrates for dinner, and stay away from soft drinks.
- Go on an easy run. It doesn’t have to be long or hard, 30 minutes will be just fine.
- Plan out your race! Planning your race the day before means it will be fresh in your mind. Think about the plan as you lay in bed. Think about it when you wake up the day of, and then stick to it during the race.
- Start hydrating a little extra. If you hydrate a little bit extra the day before, you know you will have plenty of water starting off on the day of the event.
- Pack a ‘race pack’. Having everything you need in a pack that you can grab is nifty. If something comes up and you need to be ready in 20 minutes, have no fear! You already packed a bag with your spikes, socks, race clothes, water, and a snack. Throwing in your ‘lucky’ items would be a good idea too, because then you will be sure to have them if they are a must.
Whitney M. Young Jr said it best:
“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
Jul
29
Running Two a Day
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Many runners up their mileage by running twice every day. I have heard many opinions on the helpfulness of two-a-days. Some people believe running twice in a day is more hurt than help.
This article on two-a-days goes through the benefits of running twice and when you should start your new training.
My personal opinion is that it can’t hurt to run twice a day, but if you are on low mileage maybe only run two-a-days on 2-3 days of the week.
Jul
11
To the Pain
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Distance running is largely about learning how to manage pain. There are many runners who are physically fit but lack the mental toughness it takes to be great. These runners will never quite reach their potential.
Part of training is building muscles and stamina, but an equally important part is building mental toughness. Mental toughness will allow you to train harder and to race faster. Here are some questions to determine how mentally tough you are:
Do you always have enough energy left at the end of the race for a really strong kick–stronger than those around you? It could be that you will always have enough energy to do a fast sprint at the end. However, I believe that if you normally have that much energy, you could probably run faster for the rest of the race and get a better overall time. I certainly believe this is the case if you are always passing people at the end of the race. If this happens, try a different strategy. Go out a bit faster and pass people at the beginning. Find someone who is normally faster than you and stick with them. You may surprise yourself. If you have a weak kick at the end, at least you know you’ve left it all on the course.
When you go running on your own, do you find yourself running more or less than the goal you set out with? Running on your own can be mentally demanding. There is no one to distract you. There is no one with whom you can compete–only yourself. Usually you’ll have a goal of how long or far you want to run. Meet that goal! If you can, go a little further. Sometimes I will force myself to run a certain distance by heading in a straight line away from my house and not turning around until I’ve completed half of my goal. If I’m tired on the way back, I have to learn to face my doubts and negative thoughts and go all the way, after all, there is no short cut.
Have you developed ways to eliminate negative thoughts? Many runners allow negative thoughts to destroy them. This is evident when a “good” runner has a terrible race. A truly good runner can run well even when he or she doesn’t feel well. One way I maintain positive thoughts is by singing positive songs in my mind. Another good way I’ve maintained positive thoughts is by designating points on the course that are mine. For instance, for one race I found a turn out of which I decided I would accelerate. During the race, we hit that point and since I knew it was my turn, I gained an advantage over my opponent. A final way to find positive thoughts is to watch inspirational movies. Two that I recommend are Gattica and Rudy, but try to find your own.
Do you slow down when someone passes you? One strategy I use during races is to speed up when I’m passing. It can really destroy the mind of your opponent. But don’t get on the wrong side of that tactic! Know your strategy and stick to it. If someone passes you unexpectedly, either speed up or maintain your speed, but don’t slow down.
Do you find yourself looking back at the end of a race? Believe me, I’ve looked back and I know exactly what it means: “I don’t want to go any faster and I won’t go any faster unless someone is going to pass me.” Boston knew what they were talking about–don’t look back! Leave everything on the course. Don’t be lazy. Go as fast as you can so that the person that might be behind you gives up.
The Tour de France is in full swing. Michael Barry, a professional cyclist, wrote in a New York Times piece that:
Everybody in the Tour de France will suffer; the winner will probably be the one who is prepared to suffer the most.
The same is true for distance racing. Don’t think that it’s just a runner’s stamina that got him/her first place; it was also his/her mind.
Jul
6
The Importance of Stretching
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One rookie mistake that many runners make is not stretching. Stretching is a fundamental part of running. You should stretch before and after every run. Not only does stretching feel good, it makes you less susceptible to injury, have a wider range of motion, and reduces soreness after hard workouts.
- To stretch more successfully, go on a 5-10 minute easy warm up. This causes the muscles to literally warm up, making them easier to stretch.
- When you stretch, you should go to the furthest that you can without overextending the muscle. Hold that position for 20-60 seconds.
- Stretch both sides of the body the same amount, not doing so can hurt your form and cause injuries that you are trying to prevent.
- Do NOT bounce when stretching. This often causes overextending of the muscle and can cause injury.
If you currently have poor flexibility, don’t worry! Adding stretches to your running routine makes you a more flexible person over time.
Stretching after your workout is another important thing to do. After a workout your muscles are warmest. They will take the stretches easier and it will feel great! Post-workout stretching reduces soreness later.
Add stretching to your routine. Some great stretches for runners can be found on this webpage.
Stretch you Curious Runners.
Jul
1
Nick Symmonds Qualifies for Beijing
Filed Under News, Quote, Running, Spotlight Runner | Leave a Comment
Nick Symmonds shot past competition to take first in the 2008 Olympic Track & Field Trials at Eugene,
Oregon. Symmonds ran the 800 in a time of 1:44.10, the second fastest 800 time ever run in the United States.
“It’s one thing to say that I have the potential to do it. It’s another thing to do it on the night everyone else is trying to.”
-Nick Symmonds
Something I admire about Nick is that he knows you cannot truly win unless you have to compete. I have known many runners who win races but do not run their hardest. They don’t set personal bests, they don’t feel tired after the race, but they get first place and are satisfied.
Run your hardest every race, don’t settle for what you know you can do. Remain curious.
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About
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This is my blog where I write about running, training, races, and anything else running related. Because I run for Mountain View High School I may write about my team and opposing teams in the Treasure Valley. Everything written in this blog is my personal opinion and does not reflect the views of my coaches, my teammates, or my school.