What About Racing?

Preparations Before the Leap

To be in good running shape, it will take you a several months of preparation.

Train Like a Pro

Those months of preparation should not be wasted by just doing anything you would like to do. You must run for about 5 to 6 days a week. Why run that much? Here is exactly how  you should spend those running days:

• 1-2 days should be spent for long runs, say 5-6 miles.
• 1 day should be spent while working out on speed. Working out 200's for speed training is said to be advisable. Start with 5 to 6 and then maintain a pace that is steady. Improving your speed is easy if you do strides about once or twice a week every after run. But while doing this, you must not be stressed out. Relax.
• 1 day should be spent for hill workouts.
• 1-2 days for shorter runs, i.e., about 30 minutes or 3 to 4 miles.

Before running, don't forget to warm up so as not to upset your muscles and ligaments. Stretch properly. You need to stretch and warm up before running to not make yourself prone to injury. Jogging in place can be a good form of warm-up.

Watch What You Put into Your Mouth

Proper diet is essential for the health and performance of a runner. You don't want to be sluggish while training. Eating the right kind of food will make you ready for running. Carbohydrates are one food group that runners should never run out of in their diets. Carb loading is required to make a runner's muscles ready for action because it is what energizes a runner. Good sources of carbohydrates include bread and pasta. However, a runner should not eat anything heavy before a race because it can cause cramps. Eat way before the race and just something small.

For more information about diet see the page "Diet Does Matter."

A runner will need to drink lots of liquid the night before the race. Hydration is very important to ward off any sickness.

Have Enough Rest

How you handle the night before a race is crucial in doing great in a race. You have to have adequate amount of sleep and should not undergo any stressing activity.

As you near the day of the race you have to prepare the following:

Create a checklist of the things that you have to bring.

You should label or mark all the things that you will bring in a race to avoid confusing your things with others' or vice versa.

Choose your most comfortable and functional running shoes. Lightweight shoes are often preferred but it's really your call on which ever you feel best running with.

During the big day or the day of the race, be sure to wake up early to be able to catch better your presence of mind. Don't eat anything that might make your stomach upset. Get to the racing spot early. Get your things to the designated spot where you can keep them. Or if you have a company or a running coach let him or her help with your things. Familiarize yourself with the racing field though you should have done this a few months or weeks prior. 15 minutes before the race begins, do some stretching and light jogging to prep up your muscles. Make it to the start line about 10 minutes before the race.

When the race starts, you have to slow down. Pace yourself and maintain an even pace from the beginning to the end of the race. For each mile, signs will be available for you to monitor your pace. Keep tabs of your pace by timing yourself for each mile that you finish. Don't forget to drink at the provided drink stations. Walking while drinking is a good way to summon more energy. One more thing: Enjoy!

Consistency is the name of the game here. If you don't make yourself do all the required training stuff, it's almost preparing to fail during the race. Without self-discipline you will not be worthy to run a race at all.