So most of you have seen the pics I have posted on Facebook and Twitter of myself rosy cheeked, bundled up, and sweating- proving that woman don’t necessarily just glow. I am officially training for the LA Marathon! Usually, you would need to give yourself around 6 months to train for a marathon. However, I don’t have time for that! But don’t worry, I will be walking the 26 mile marathon with the good people over at Child S.H.A.R.E. So not only will I have company, but I will have an excuse to not try to run the entire way. (thank goodness)
Before we start going over tips on what to do…
I think it is just as important to go over things you should NOT do! So many beginners make so many of the same mistakes when they first start out!
My friends over at Runner’s World helped me out with this amazing list!
Mistake: Too fast, too soon
“Most first-time racers go out too fast and are miserable by the second mile,” says women’s running coach Jane Serues. Even veteran runners get caught up in the race-day enthusiasm–and other faster racers.
Easy Fix:
“Start out at a comfortable pace,” says Serues, “a pace where you’re not killing yourself and can still converse with deep breaths in between sentences. No huffing and puffing.” Then try to run each mile just a little bit faster, so that your last mile is the fastest. “A strong finish leaves a better taste in your mouth than a great first mile with a cross-eyed finish,” says Chris Carmichael of Carmichael Training Systems.
Mistake: Too much food
RW columnist Jeff Galloway says many first-timers eat too much before a race, particularly the night before. Carmichael agrees. “You don’t need to carbo-load for a 5-K,” he says. Most people have enough stored energy in their bodies to run a 5-K without taking in any additional calories.
Easy Fix:
“Eat less than normal before the race,” says Serues. Try small meals the day before, and something as simple as a banana and a glass of skim milk on race morning. “The key is choosing something easy to digest,” says Serues. “Not ham and eggs, which your body has to work hard to break down.”
Mistake: Too little warmup/cooldown
Your body needs to warm up properly before it can run well at the higher intensity required to race a 5-K. And a postrace cooldown helps you recover more quickly so that you’ll feel better the day after the race.
Easy Fix:
Include a 15-minute warmup before the race, and a 15-minute cooldown afterward, says Carmichael. For both, mix walking and jogging to help ease into and out of your race pace.
Want to come join me and the rest of the 8th Continent Crew at the Marathon? DO IT!
Make sure to keep tuning in for more tips and updates to get you to that finish line.
