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.This look says it all

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).

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

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.

    • Jacob Taylor at the Bob Firman Invitational 2007

  • About

      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.