Our women marathon runners are excited about the upcoming in-person races. And we guess that you feel the same way! It’s been a long while since people had the opportunity to do runs in person. And now that things are opening up, many seek road races and also vacation races. For those of you who are just getting started, these are race tips that could get you on your way.
1. Set An Audacious Goal for Your Road Race
One of our first race tips is simply to get started. Perhaps you always wanted to participate in a road race but didn’t think you could do it. Maybe you lost your momentum during the pandemic. Or perhaps you don’t believe you have enough time. If you want to do a road race, there’s no time like the present. Just do it. Moreover, tell everyone about it. By doing so, you make sure that you create space for accountability. (Take a look at this list from Active of Road Races).
2. Get the Proper Gear for Your Racing
The next thing you want to do for your road race is to get the right gear. Perhaps you’ve never run distances on the level of marathons, or maybe you’re old sneakers are good enough—so you think. You need the right sneakers to ensure you get support for your ankle, heel, and feet. If you sign-up for short races, look to get light-weight sneakers. For longer races, such as 10Ks and beyond, you need sneakers for comfort. Here’s how to choose the best sneakers.
3. Planning Has to Become Part of Your Program
The reality is that no matter how busy your schedule is, you’ve got to get running. The best way to do that is to plan it into your schedule, yes, even if you’re not a planer. In short, you have to condition your body and mind for the demands of a road race. So, take the time to plan a training schedule (check out this running schedule for beginners). Also, determine what fuel strategy you’ll use, such as gels or electrolytes.
4. Get Familiar With the Route and Plan for Your Running Race
Another excellent race tip is to get familiar with the route of your race. Not only that, as you get closer to the date of your running race, you want to familiarize yourself with registration, parking, and where you’re supposed to check in. Of course, you also want to make sure you know the check-in time. The idea’s to minimize stress as the big day arrives and on the day itself. When you sign-up for a race, you’ll likely receive a map of the route. You could check it out using Google Earth to understand the terrain, bridges, and flow.
5. Good Sleep Has Also to Become a Priority for Running
Road racers get excited by racing, and that’s great. But, one of the essential aspects of overall wellness is sleep. While you train, you should always ensure you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. Again, recovery of the body during sleep is vital and exceedingly crucial for our race tips. For runners and athletes, just a slight sleep loss could adversely affect your performance on race day and leading up to it.
6. Get Your Clothing and Sneakers Together Before the Race
It might not seem consequential, but the week of your road race, you want to get your sneakers and clothing set and apart. Again, what you need to do is minimize stress for optimum performance. Moreover, by putting your clothing and athletic shoes to the side, you ensure you don’t miss taking anything. Keep an eye on the weather for your race, and ensure that you have the proper clothes. Make it a point not to get clothing that’s too warm or uncomfortable, as temperatures rise during the day and you don’t want to get overly hot. Also, don’t wear new sneakers! Make sure your sneakers are comfortable and broken-in.
7. Do What Works for You to Remain Centered
Our final point on our race tips is remembering that your road race isn’t just about being physically fit. It’s also about maintaining your emotional well-being. If you’ve never run a marathon, for example, you’ll probably be excited and also nervous. That’s okay. The best thing you could do is to train yourself as part of your program to stay positive. You could do it using running mantras, focusing on breathing, or creating a music playlist that inspires and motivates you. Do what works for you.
Remember, most runners change their sneakers every 300 to 500 miles. Don’t let those athletic shoes go into the trash, which harms the planet. If you have a running store or are a road race director, check out what your community could do with Sneakers For Good.
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