Have a Race Coming Up?

Many runners run on their own time, as well as compete in road races. There are countless road races ran all over the country and plenty to choose from in your home state, any time of the year. This entry is aimed more at beginner runners, but these tips can be good reminders for any runner on what to do on race day!

Getting Ready

1) DO NOT wear anything new. Lots of people will buy great new gear--shoes, clothing, etc--and that's great, but trying out anything new on race day is not the way to go! Running shoes especially need to be broken in, and should not be used for long distances the first time they are worn, this can cause blisters on the feet, and plain old soreness! Wear something good and reliable that you've had a lot of experience running in before. 

Start of the Race

2) Start off slow! If the race you're running in is longer that a 5k (3.1 miles) then it is usually best to start off a little bit slower in order to conserve your energy and not "burn out" too quickly. For 5k's, many runners run a fairly quick pace through out the whole race. It is quite a short distance, so it is not as important to have a slow start, unless of course, you're beginning or your longest training run reaching only 3 to 4 miles. 

During the Race

3) Drink water! A lot of times it is not very convenient to carry a bottle of water while running, so almost all races offer water on course. Typically, they fill up dixie cups with water from a cooler and hold them out to the runners. But how do you drink and run at the same time? It is an art, for sure. I have still not yet mastered it, and usually end up with some water on my shirt, but there is a method. Squeeze the cup so the lip of the cup folds, and the opening is a long rectangular shape, then pinch one side so the opening becomes very small and then you are able to tilt the cup and drink out of the small hole - potentially this can be spill free!