Community

The benefit that strikes out is the community aspect of racing. Racing brings the running community together. I am an introverted person, and I love my solo runs, but races are the perfect way to be surrounded by like-minded people, even for someone like me. Fellow runners in my race corrals have taught me so much about racing. From the marathon expo to the finish line, the support and camaraderie of runners is like none other. Races are like big fitness and running parties.

Motivation

I love the motivation that a scheduled race gives you. The date on the calendar is an excellent way to set a timeline for your running and fitness goals. For me, goals of running with a friend, setting a personal best, or just finishing strong are great for a confidence boost. After achieving the goals for a particular race, I am motivated to set the bar higher for the next race.

Structure

One of the best things about race training is the discipline and structure. I am a pretty self-disciplined person, but life happens; yes, I am talking about kids, work, and home. These things get in the way of exercise schedule quickly. Running with an aim, like a future race,  will help you put various runs on your calendar and motivate you to prioritize your running workouts. You will be able to gauge your progress with structured running.

Challenges

Racing always comes with challenges, managing the training schedule, staying healthy and injury-free, or a hilly course. I like to embrace challenges because they push me out of my comfort zone. I want to do more, push harder, get tougher, and races give me ample opportunities to do just that.

Travel

Racing is a great way to travel around the states and worldwide. I know a few athletes who have run a marathon in every continent of the world. Many runners set to complete the fifty-state challenge and go around to see all fifty states. What better way to explore a city than racing in it? It’s a perfect opportunity to explore the state and turn it into a runcation.

You can reap all these benefits from racing. Try putting a race on the calendar this spring and see where it takes you next. You might get hooked on racing and running.

The post Why You Should Put a Race on Your Calendar NOW 0 (0) first appeared on Tone & Strengthen.

Whether you are tackling your first 5K, upgraded to an 8K or are running a marathon, racing isn’t difficult if you are prepared for it. There’s no need to be stressed out, after all, racing is fun.

Here are some important steps to practice before the race and during your training to prepare for your next race.

Make Sleep a Priority – It’s important to log proper amount of sleep for your recovery and to be ready to race. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep each night during your training. Research shows even sleep lag can impede your athletic performance. Try to be well rested as the race day approaches.

Practice and Plan- Practice makes you perfect. Running several times, a week during the training is going to get you ready for race day. Working with a coach or using a training plan is good idea.

Know the Racecourse- Familiarize yourself with the racecourse ahead of time. If you are local, it’s a good idea to run the route or drive or bike on it. If you are going to be traveling to the race, see the racecourse map. Outline the hills and the flats. Know when you are going to push and when you are going to backoff. Outline the fueling stations and where and how often would you like to stop. Determine your fueling strategy ahead of time. Would you like to take energy gels and how often?

Set a Goal and a Backup Goal- We all have a goal pace set for our races. I know many people achieve their goals. Keep in mind, things happen on race day that are out of our control. Things like weather, your stomach, cramps, and the list can go on and on. Keep a backup goal in case things don’t go your way on race day. Just finishing is a great goal to have too.

Hydrate Before and During the Race- Dehydration will not only make you feel sick you, but it will also hamper your performance. It’s good to practice hydrating before, during and after long runs. Practice will make you perfect.

Eat Familiar Meals- Practice what you eat the night before the long runs during your training. Try to stick with those foods for race day as well. If you are traveling and will be eating out, stick with simple foods like bowl of rice with chicken or noodles with chicken and boiled egg. Don’t go out trying sushi and steak the night before the race.

Get Ready the Night Before- Lay out your gear the night before. Make sure you have everything you need including your bib and you know where and how to pin it. Remember body glide for long races and shoes that you have ran with. It’s best not to try anything new on race day.

Stay Upbeat and Positive- Maintain a positive attitude and upbeat mode before and throughout your race. The last half of most long-distance races requires mental strength. Keeping a positive attitude will help you achieve your goal pace and enjoy the race.

Arrive Early- Plan to arrive at the race well before the start. This way you will have time to use the bathroom, and warm-up. Your first sprint shouldn’t be to the starting line.

Start Out Slow- You don’t need to win the race in the first mile. What you knew that? Start out slow and pace yourself out. Trust your training and have confidence that you will do well. Leave some energy stores for the final sprint.

Relax and Enjoy the Run- Yes, it’s true! Runners are competitive and Type-A people.  What can I say? We sometimes get carried away with our goals and where we want to place. Focus on the fact that races are positive community events. Try to keep yourself calm and relaxed by following a pre-run calming routine like breathing mindfully, stretching, and maybe listening to your favorite music.

After spending weeks training for your first race, you don’t want the last-minute stress to keep you from performing well at the race. To ensure your race day goes effortlessly try practicing these tips before race and during the training. These steps will ensure that you are prepared for what’s to come on race day.

The post 10 + 1 Tips for Successful Race Day 0 (0) first appeared on Tone & Strengthen.