Why Race? Top Benefits of Running Races
“The race is the beauty part,” said Dr. George Sheehan. He adds, “The time you put it all together is the race.”
Whether you run one mile or fifty, it is an exhilarating experience. Many run so they can race, but some are leery of the endeavor. Let’s delve into why racing comes with benefits.
Community
Racing brings the running community together and forges new running friendships. Running is unique in the way that it allows beginners and professionals to share the same space, and at times run head-to-head.
The more racers the better. It is a rush to toe the line with other runners.
Motivation
There is no better motivator than knowing that you have a race in your future. To give the race your best effort, you need to train.
The future race date on your calendar will give you a goal. Even if your chances of winning the race are slim, set goals such as, winning your age group, beating a friend, getting a personal best or just finishing strong.
Structure
Training for a race teaches you how to be more disciplined and run each day with a purpose in mind. It is all too easy to run aimlessly. A race can point out weaknesses in your training and give you a base to structure future training.
Fears
Race day fears are normal. Even after years of racing, seasoned racers get the race day jitters. They have learned how to use these to help them run competitively. Other runners may fear injury, not finishing or poor performance. Facing these fears at the starting line is the best way to conquer them.
Measurement of Progress
Your first 10k may not tell you much about your progress, but after a few years of racing a runner can gauge if he is getting faster. If you do the same race multiple times you can compare different efforts, times and splits.
Even when you don’t have your fastest race you can use it as a good basis of where your training is.
Competition
Competition can help you perform better. You will notice this competition helps records be broken and personal records take place.
Races lend themselves to runners of all levels. A racer can compete against his own personal records, even if he is at the back of the pack.
Competition can mean many things. It could be passing the runner in front of you, doing better than last year, or running well for your family and friends.
Learn
A progressive runner never stops learning. Introducing racing into your running program provides a platform of wisdom. You learn more about yourself, and running in general.
The question lingers, why not race?
Ten Race Day Tips
1. Don’t get creative-Stick with the same shoes, shorts, shirts, nutrition, etc.
2. Run your Own Race-Don’t worry about everyone else. Focus on your own pace, hydration and fueling.
3. Support Crew- Bring friends and family to cheer you on.
4. Get there early- Plan on being 2 hours early. This leaves plenty of time for race prep and port-a-potty lines.
5. Be Patient- Unless you are in it to win, flying of the starting line spells late race disaster. Start slow and aim for a negative split.
6. Be Flexible and Adaptable- Be ready to flow with the weather, unexpected crowds, or bumps in your race pace goal.
7. Have Goals, not a goal- One goal can easily be missed. Give yourself various time goals, most importantly the goal of finishing.
8. Breathe- Remember to breathe in, “calm” and breathe out, “stress.”
9. Test yourself- Today is the day to see what kind of speed is inside you.
10. Enjoy it- Soak in the scenery, race vibes and pushing yourself to the limit.
Are you looking to train for a race? Contact me for a free coaching consultation:
clateboulder@yahoo.com
