Tips for your upcoming spring race!

Congrats on making it through another training cycle! With our spring races around the corner, I have decided to come up with 5 tips I think all runners should read going into race day. We hope some of these words resonate with you!  1. It’s more important to be comfortable than stylish! On a warmer morning, if you look at the leaders of the race, they are most likely wearing short shorts and a tight singlet. If you watched the leaders of the Boston Marathon last spring in the pouring down rain, the majority of the runners were wearing jackets, tights/capris, gloves, and hats. The lesson to be learned here is that in distance racing, how you dress plays a key role in your success on race day. Adjust to the weather and remember you can always ditch a layer on a cooler morning but you can never regain a layer you never wore!  2. Do not count yourself! In any race you run, you will have ups and downs. I always encourage my athletes to not overreact to the good or bad miles. Stay positive and don’t allow yourself to get down if you have an off mile. The race is full of ups and downs. Just because you feel off at mile 3 doesn’t mean you will feel off at mile 10. Believe in yourself and don’t be afraid to take a risk!  3. Don’t skim over the directions in your race packet! I showed up to my first marathon starting line without a timing chip. In St. Louis I ran a lot of races where your timing chip was on the back of the bib. At the Grandma’s Marathon they required you to also wear a chip on your shoe. As a result, my first marathon was not officially timed and my Boston Qualifier didn’t count. I tell my story to remind others that every race is different. Read the directions in your race packet, ask questions at the expo and ALWAYS take the time to double check your bag before heading to the starting line! 4. Stick to your game plan! It’s really easy to to say, “I can run faster,” when the gun goes off. No matter what, do not get caught up in the crowd or how good you feel in the beginning. You will have extra adrenaline at the start and it’s important that you don’t waste all of your energy in the beginning of the race. You want to be the one passing people at the end, not the one being passed. 5. Don’t take yourself too serious! A great runner must be focused while competing. However, it’s important to remember this is our hobby! It’s normal to have nerves before you race. It means you care. But it’s also important to remember that pressure is made up in our head. Be grateful for the opportunity to compete on a closed course with lots of other hard working athletes. When it gets hard, remember you have trained and you won’t regret giving your best effort. Pain is temporary. Enjoy the process and no matter what get to that finish line with a smile on your face. Good luck!