Training and Racing Insights

Despite many of the large May races being canceled or postponed, I was overjoyed to see so many in the running community complete smaller, local races this past weekend. Waking up at 5am yesterday to support our running group was a breeze for this night owl because the prize was seeing many of our runners run their race. (Race day is one of a few special reasons for getting up early with a smile on my face and a very happy heart.)

In the spirit of race-day celebrations, here are 23 takeaways from countless training sessions and many race days over the past decade or so…sometimes as a runner, sometimes as a coach, sometimes as a cheerleader, and sometimes as a quiet observer.

1. Don’t be afraid to set and pursue big goals! You will never know what you can achieve until you try.
2. Sometimes you have to be your own biggest cheerleader. Believe that you can achieve your goal and then work toward it.
3. You don’t have to travel alone. A support team can make your journey toward your goal less stressful and, many times, much more fun!
4. You can go a lot longer without fuel and water than you think. That said, it’s so much more pleasant to practice your nutrition and hydration in the weeks leading up to your race so that you can develop a race-day strategy.
5. Choose wisely when it comes to bundling up or removing layers, especially if the temperature is predicted to fluctuate significantly (think about what you can carry, if necessary, and how comfortable or uncomfortable you are willing to be).
6. When you reach the start line, take a moment to acknowledge the work you’ve done to get to this point.
7. Race day is your day. Run your race and enjoy the experience.
8. Feel the positive energy of those who are cheering for you and those who are running with you.
9. Sometimes it’s easier to run than it is to spectate or volunteer. This is especially true when the weather is unpleasant.
10. Though your race results may be affected by conditions outside of your control, the effort you’ve put into training and the rest you’ve taken during the taper period will help you in the moment.
11. It’s better to be undertrained vs. overtrained.
12. Not everything will go as planned. Expect to adapt.
13. Experiment on race day at your own risk.
14. Know where the bathrooms are. Go if you need to go.
15. Regardless of how your race goes, you will learn about yourself.
16. You are capable and resourceful.
17. You can tolerate the discomfort of running a touch faster than you normally do. (You’ve trained for this.)
18. Own the choices you make in the moment. Second-guessing yourself when you are well-rested after an event isn’t productive, as your perception may be inaccurate.
19. It’s always a win when you finish without injury and under your own power.
20. Your perception of yourself is likely more critical than the perception that others have of you. (Note: If someone else is extremely critical of you, they don’t belong on your support team.)
21. Celebrate your accomplishments.
22. Take time to rest and recover. (Note: Walking is a great active-recovery activity.)
23. If you don’t succeed in reaching your big goal on the first attempt, evaluate whether the goal is still important to you. If it is, don’t give up!