Training and preparing for the first race involves much more than just running. Earlier, Elijah Mcclain had spoken about how people preparing for their first race need a plan a mental strategy, learn time management, get the right gear, find the appropriate fuel and more. Here are a few tips that can help runners to prepare for their first race:
- Get the gear: Runners need to find the right sneakers and socks for their training, and the race in general. Wearing the right pair of shoes is critical when taking part in the race. One should not also neglect the issue of chafing and consider buying an anti-chafe cream that can be used on the chest, thighs and under the arms.
- Plan the nutrition: It is not easy to pick the right foods when preparing for a run. While fiber is good for runners, it may not be the right choice just before training. High fiber food items may cause digestive distress. Hence, one should try to select quick-absorbing carbohydrates like toast with almond butter and banana or even a good old peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If one is following a grain free diet, they can just have scrambled eggs and sweet potatoes. It is better to avoid dates, pears and apples pre-run as they may cause cramping. Whether one should or shouldn’t have dairy before a run would depend on their individual preference and health. While many runners can consume a bowl of cereal with skim milk prior to a run without any problems, dairy can induce discomfort in several others. One can use their training period to experiment with different food items, in order to make the right choice on race day.
- Build a support network: Runners should surround oneself with a supportive network of family, friends, and colleagues who are enthusiastic about the race. Finding a running partner, participating in a running club, or simply spending time with individuals who motivate and inspire can encourage people to stay on track with their training.
- Do not skimp out on training: While it can be tempting to just assume that the energy on the race day would be enough to push a person through those miles, not putting enough time into training can make the race more difficult. The atmosphere and the crowd can certainly give runners a boost on the big day; they will not be able to help a runner’s body to complete a distance it is not prepared for.
- Practice fueling and drinking ahead of time: While one may not need much fuel along the way when running a 5k or even 10k, if one’s first race is a half marathon or marathon, they would need fuel and water on the run. It is not easy to gulp down water while maintaining the running pace. Hence, earlier Elijah Mcclain had pointed out that one must practice their fuel strategy multiple times on long runs during training.
No matter whether one has signed up to run a 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon, or anything in between, they need to prepare for it properly. By the time race week arrives, a runner is likely to be full of excitement and nerves, but the experience would definitely be worth it.
