35 Replies to “5 Ways to Make Sure Your Race Doesn’t Suck”
Great tips!! The last race I ran was kind of horrible- I was exhausted after a ridiculously hectic week at work and my legs and entire body were not working with me. I decided to just focus on getting through it and having fun rather than trying for any kind of PR. I finished and was happy! 🙂
I ran a terrible race this summer – it was really hot and humid, I felt dehydrated, and I fell somewhere after mile 2. It was also my slowest time in a while. I didn’t let any of it defeat me, did what I could, got water at the water stop, and got right back up after falling. The next week I blow my time out of the water (it was a summer weekly series). I also made sure I was properly hydrated and dressed for the rest of the series. Sometimes bad races (and runs) need to happen so you can then have really awesome ones!
man, heat can turn into krytonite if u’re not careful!! i had a really bad dehydration story when i was just starting out too…lesson learned for both of us! 🙂
I really needed this since I’m racing Saturday. My last half, I followed a lot of those tips and it really helped. Another thing is if you can get a map of the course in advance, and you can figure out where the hills are, turns, water stops, etc, that can really help you in knowing where you can and can’t push the pace. Here in SC we have a lot of humidity and heat so you always have to adjust for that, but it makes your Fall times way faster after training all summer!
Awesome tips (and art to go along with them)! I think the mind mutiny tip is the best, as that one can pop up so unexpectedly.
My best tip would be to go into a race with realistic expectations.
Great tips! I totally agree with #5………..we NEED sucky runs because they make our good runs that much more awesome!! 🙂
My best tips would probably be to make sure and wear pink. I mean, for reals people– pink makes everything better. 🙂 Haha.
Seriously, something that has been important in my (very) short racing ‘career’ is punctuality. Get there early. Don’t blow your whole race because you don’t have enough time to double tie your shoes, hit the porta-potties or warm up. My personal motto in life 24/7 is “if you’re not early; you are late” and that could not be any more true for racing!
remembering that the suck-factor in a run will make us mentally tougher and make us appreciate the good ones is prettttty much the only thing that keeps u going thru a slog-fest! 😉 well, that and pop-tart dreaming. lol
You know what’s so lovely about this list? We could probably apply the points to just about anything in life and have them hold up! Clearly a good sign of seriously worthwhile recommendations 🙂
Good timing! I got a 5er this weekend and I just checked weather and it is going to be hot and windy. Yuck! Not going to be a PB but I am not going to let the weather define this race – thanks for the wise words :=)
My race plan … “get chicking”!!!! Yee ha! I’m going to count them off and report back to ya 🙂
I rarely go in with an actual plan – It’s to much pressure for me. Last race season I was hellbent on breaking 1:50 – I set my sights on the Women’s Half in St.Pete and when I blew up I was devastated. After that, I said “eff it.” I couldn’t feel like that during/after every race.
yea, plans and goals make u tread a fine line. just enough pressure to keep u on the right track but NOT so much that it stresses u out to the point where u then self-implode.
My mind is a mutinous b*tch, sometimes. I swear I feel good for the first 1/4 of a race, pumped up and enjoying what my body is doing and then the middle 1/2 is like “grrr. arrrh, why are you doing this to us, cmplain complain complain sit down and stop running” and the last 1/4 is in survival mode. Going to follow the link and read some more to shut my brain up 😉
hahahaha….”mutinous mind b*tch” could totally be a runner diagnosis and we need to start raising fundage and awareness to get that cure! 😉 jk. the mental side of running is something we are all constantly working on..and are tested each time we head out!
Oh wow. So I’m pretty new to racing, and with the exception of 1) (I’ve never been competitive in a race :-P), they all hit home. I definitely know Mr Dead Legs!
My best advice to myself on a really hard day is to just enjoy the ride, and keep running. At the end of the day, getting to the end without stopping is the base aim, and it’s ok to be happy with that. If I get to stuck on times and place, I’ll end up hating running, and no race is worth that.
On a day when my legs went all lead-like, I pushed trough the pain, slowed down a little, and just gave it all I had at the end.
wise words, my dear! the hard days, u make finishing the first priority and from there assessing how u can best deliver wat the legs decided to offer up that day! aaaand, we’re so gonna change that not being in a comp. race thing. 😉
I always try to plan ahead for the worst scenario…seems to have helped so far 🙂 But you are right sometimes the legs just aren’t there. It’s frustrating but you have to just keep truckin!
I don’t run a lot, but I did a 5K a couple of weekends ago and I definitely embraced some of these tips! I totally used my fellow runners as competition. I’d pass someone and then shift my focus to passing the next person, and the next. Every time someone passed me, I’d try to pick up the pace. I also had a game plan, especially since my stomach was feeling meh that morning. I decided ahead of time I’d be OK if I had to stop and walk for a bit, because it was impressive that I still came out for the race. And that helped me be OK with having to walk at the end when I got a massive side cramp!
thanks for stopping by cait! 🙂 glad we think alike and you were working all those tips during ur last race. i’m glad u were also smart to factor in ur plan walking breaks…but i’m SO sorry u got hit with nasty cramps…ugh, those are the worst. 🙁
Great tips!! The last race I ran was kind of horrible- I was exhausted after a ridiculously hectic week at work and my legs and entire body were not working with me. I decided to just focus on getting through it and having fun rather than trying for any kind of PR. I finished and was happy! 🙂
thanks! oh man, yea, life stuff can DEF throw u some curve balls come race day. great job on staying focused and still giving it all u’ve got! 🙂
I ran a terrible race this summer – it was really hot and humid, I felt dehydrated, and I fell somewhere after mile 2. It was also my slowest time in a while. I didn’t let any of it defeat me, did what I could, got water at the water stop, and got right back up after falling. The next week I blow my time out of the water (it was a summer weekly series). I also made sure I was properly hydrated and dressed for the rest of the series. Sometimes bad races (and runs) need to happen so you can then have really awesome ones!
man, heat can turn into krytonite if u’re not careful!! i had a really bad dehydration story when i was just starting out too…lesson learned for both of us! 🙂
I really needed this since I’m racing Saturday. My last half, I followed a lot of those tips and it really helped. Another thing is if you can get a map of the course in advance, and you can figure out where the hills are, turns, water stops, etc, that can really help you in knowing where you can and can’t push the pace. Here in SC we have a lot of humidity and heat so you always have to adjust for that, but it makes your Fall times way faster after training all summer!
YAY!! glad u had a great half last time and the same tips were working. 🙂
Awesome tips (and art to go along with them)! I think the mind mutiny tip is the best, as that one can pop up so unexpectedly.
My best tip would be to go into a race with realistic expectations.
AWESOME point…set ur goals that push you but don’t set urself up for things that are just over ur head for that moment. 🙂
Great tips! I totally agree with #5………..we NEED sucky runs because they make our good runs that much more awesome!! 🙂
My best tips would probably be to make sure and wear pink. I mean, for reals people– pink makes everything better. 🙂 Haha.
Seriously, something that has been important in my (very) short racing ‘career’ is punctuality. Get there early. Don’t blow your whole race because you don’t have enough time to double tie your shoes, hit the porta-potties or warm up. My personal motto in life 24/7 is “if you’re not early; you are late” and that could not be any more true for racing!
remembering that the suck-factor in a run will make us mentally tougher and make us appreciate the good ones is prettttty much the only thing that keeps u going thru a slog-fest! 😉 well, that and pop-tart dreaming. lol
You know what’s so lovely about this list? We could probably apply the points to just about anything in life and have them hold up! Clearly a good sign of seriously worthwhile recommendations 🙂
So true!
thanks! and SO true…that’s the thing i luv about running, pretty much all lessons learned apply to life in general!
Good timing! I got a 5er this weekend and I just checked weather and it is going to be hot and windy. Yuck! Not going to be a PB but I am not going to let the weather define this race – thanks for the wise words :=)
My race plan … “get chicking”!!!! Yee ha! I’m going to count them off and report back to ya 🙂
YES for Get Chicking!! sorry to hear that the weather won’t be ideal, but u’ve got the right attitude! can’t wait to hear how awesome u do/did! 🙂
I rarely go in with an actual plan – It’s to much pressure for me. Last race season I was hellbent on breaking 1:50 – I set my sights on the Women’s Half in St.Pete and when I blew up I was devastated. After that, I said “eff it.” I couldn’t feel like that during/after every race.
yea, plans and goals make u tread a fine line. just enough pressure to keep u on the right track but NOT so much that it stresses u out to the point where u then self-implode.
My mind is a mutinous b*tch, sometimes. I swear I feel good for the first 1/4 of a race, pumped up and enjoying what my body is doing and then the middle 1/2 is like “grrr. arrrh, why are you doing this to us, cmplain complain complain sit down and stop running” and the last 1/4 is in survival mode. Going to follow the link and read some more to shut my brain up 😉
Great tips!!
hahahaha….”mutinous mind b*tch” could totally be a runner diagnosis and we need to start raising fundage and awareness to get that cure! 😉 jk. the mental side of running is something we are all constantly working on..and are tested each time we head out!
oh gosh, these are so good, and so true! mind over matter, yes?
thanks! and heck yes!
Oh wow. So I’m pretty new to racing, and with the exception of 1) (I’ve never been competitive in a race :-P), they all hit home. I definitely know Mr Dead Legs!
My best advice to myself on a really hard day is to just enjoy the ride, and keep running. At the end of the day, getting to the end without stopping is the base aim, and it’s ok to be happy with that. If I get to stuck on times and place, I’ll end up hating running, and no race is worth that.
On a day when my legs went all lead-like, I pushed trough the pain, slowed down a little, and just gave it all I had at the end.
wise words, my dear! the hard days, u make finishing the first priority and from there assessing how u can best deliver wat the legs decided to offer up that day! aaaand, we’re so gonna change that not being in a comp. race thing. 😉
Embracing competitors definitely works! I run alone a lot, but in races, I try to pass people. 🙂
it’s always so fun/cool/shocking when u’re used to running along and then when u suddenly get company just how much ‘easier’ those paces feel! 🙂
I always try to plan ahead for the worst scenario…seems to have helped so far 🙂 But you are right sometimes the legs just aren’t there. It’s frustrating but you have to just keep truckin!
alllwways keep on truckin…love that motto! 🙂
I don’t run a lot, but I did a 5K a couple of weekends ago and I definitely embraced some of these tips! I totally used my fellow runners as competition. I’d pass someone and then shift my focus to passing the next person, and the next. Every time someone passed me, I’d try to pick up the pace. I also had a game plan, especially since my stomach was feeling meh that morning. I decided ahead of time I’d be OK if I had to stop and walk for a bit, because it was impressive that I still came out for the race. And that helped me be OK with having to walk at the end when I got a massive side cramp!
thanks for stopping by cait! 🙂 glad we think alike and you were working all those tips during ur last race. i’m glad u were also smart to factor in ur plan walking breaks…but i’m SO sorry u got hit with nasty cramps…ugh, those are the worst. 🙁
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