The Ottawa Marathon is getting close. For some, this is great news, it's a chance to finally put all those grueling training sessions to the test. For others, it's a harsh reality that they are quite far behind in their training. If this is your first time running a Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10k, or 5k, first and foremost, Congratulations! Whether it is your first or your 50th it is quite an accomplishment. I have 5 last minute training and race day tips to help you get ready for the big day.
- Start doing trial-runs of race day- What I mean by
this is, is during your long run for the week try to simulate race
day as much as possible. Wake up at the same time as you will have
to on race day. Eat the same breakfast that you plan to on rest day.
Make sure you know exactly which pair of shoes and which pair of
shorts you will be wearing on race day. When the day arrives you
will be anxious so anything that can be planned and laid out the
days prior should be planned early. This includes the route to the
race as well as parking.
- Stay Positive- If this is your first time running a
race, your goal should just be to finish. Take in the sights and
sounds of the day and see what your body is capable of. It might be
motivating to find out that you could have gone faster and that
feeling will drive you to beat your time for the following race. If
you do have a goal pace, remember there are a lot of things out of
your control like heat, humidity and wind, so don't get down on
yourself if you don't reach your goal pace.
- Start Slow- This tip is more for the marathoners and
half-marathoners than it is for the 10k/5k group. Use the first few
kilometers as a feeler for how you feel on that day. It is much more
important to be able to finish strong than it is to start strong.
Even if you feel great after the gun you will need all the glycogen
you have in order to finish the race.
- Add stretching and yoga to your training regimen. I do
not recommend static stretching(holding a stretch to the point of
tension for at least 15 seconds) as a warm up as it causes
micro-tearing of the muscles. That is better saved for after your
daily run. As a warm-up it is better to do movement based stretches
such as high kicks, butt kicks, or jumping jacks.
- Take time for yourself- The last few weeks before a
marathon is where injuries tend to creep up as your total distance
tends to be increasing. At Moore Chiropractic and Moore Massage we
take care of marathoners daily, helping athletes perform their best.
Good Luck and Have Fun
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