Unofficial Guide: First Race

Edit:  Even if you don't need a first race guide, feel free to skim it to see if you have anything to add :)

I was thinking of a way to write a more serious, helpful article rather than just a stream of training updates and I think I found a way to do it!  I am going to write a series of Unofficial Guides to help with running.  While this is still more of an opinion and experience based piece, I do hope that it will help new runners, and possibly even experienced ones as well!

Because I ran my first non school sponsored event yesterday, I was able to experience the process from signing up for the race to stepping up at the starting line.  While this race was pretty relaxed I was able to come up with a few things that I think will happen with any race and how to be ready to handle it so it is smooth sailing from signing up to starting.  Since this is a longer post, I will be adding a break so that it doesn't take up too much room.

If you are still interested, keep on reading!

Race Day!

Today was my first race in 2011, and in quite a while actually.  It was a really great experience!  There were 200 people (really convenient right?)  who ran today so I got a real race experience!  I think that it was the perfect number of runners to get into the racing grove.  I learned a lot, got my first bib(number 540) and raced hard in the heat.

We lined up and started at 7:30, it was still about 95 outside and the sun was still up and beating on us.  Luckily the course was flat, but it was windy almost the entire way though, and not pushing sadly.

Starting Line (in in the middle with the green shirt)

We did a couple loops and 2 out and back to complete the entire 5k, so I was able to pass by my family and girlfriend twice and they helped me keep pace and finish strong!

The first pass keeping a steady pace

Sprinting to the finish line the second pass

Race Results:
I ended up getting right around the time I projected to get, 24:25.  I think I ran a pretty good race, coming in 9th in my age group and 31st overall!  Not bad for 3-4 weeks of running again!

Picture of the time clock when I finished

Then of course I had to take a picture with my lovely girlfriend to commemorate the first of many, many, many races to come :)

The lovely girlfriend and sweaty me

Back to Training

I took Wednesday off to make sure I had fresh legs for the race, but Saturday is another 3 miler followed by a 5 on Sunday.  Only 11 more days until I start my marathon training!

Well that is all for the night, hope everyone had a wonderful end of June.  Until next time,

Brett

Dress Rehearsal

2 Days Until Race:
Today was a great training run!  I decided to run at 7:30 this evening, a bit earlier than I have been lately, because I thought it would be a good idea to run at the same time my race will be at!  It was defiantly a different feeling running in that heat with the sun a little lower but still baking me.  I decided to run the first mile at a pretty comfortable pace and then I picked it up a tad bit the second mile, then for the last 800m I picked up to as fast as I could sustain.  That seems to be the way I want to run my races, with a negative split, so I figure trying it in my training would help me mentally prepare for it.

Based on my time (23:20) I will be aiming for running under 24:00.  I know I will be able to break 20:00 this year on a 5k, but I have a feeling it wont be in the summer because of the heat.

In Other News:
Gear:
I went and picked up a new running tank top today because I found my other shirt felt like they were choking me  while I was running, so I figured I would get something a little looser so I could breathe.  I also picked up a new water bottle that had a nice "handle" on it so it will slip onto my hand so I don't have to focus on holding it while I'm running!  

Family:
Had a funny conversation with my mom and sister this evening a little while before my run.  A little background information first so it makes more sense.  My sister is just starting High School this next year, she does cheer and runs track but she REFUSES to run longer distances or run with me.  My mom does CrossFit here in Seguin, but hates to run.  So my mom said she wasn't going to go to CrossFit today because they were basing the workout around a mile run.

Sister:  Mom! Ill go to CrossFit today if you run!
Mom: No way! I hate running, why don't you go run with your brother?
*Sister thinks for a second*
Sister: Nah, he will challenge me.  I don't like being challenged.

I thought it was pretty funny, but I would understand if you didn't :)

Questions:
I kind of like asking questions to see what other think, and to get to know my readers better!

- When did you first start to run? Why?
- Would you say you are competitive?

Well, ill be running another easy 2 miles tomorrow so I will blog tomorrow.  Maybe I will have some existential thought and write about it, but most likely I will just write about my run and day!  Until then, happy running!

Brett

Race Week!

This week is my first race in quite a while, and it also marks the first race I will be competing in on this blog!  I think it is quite exciting, and I will be able to use it as a benchmark for my training pace when I start my actual marathon training schedule on July 11th.  Like I said in a previous post, it will be a night run on a pretty flat course so I should have a pretty good time.  I am currently aiming for getting right around 21 minutes, but if the conditions are good I might be able to push a little harder and get close to the 20 min mark.

This is what ill look like at the end, hopefully!

Today's Run:

For the last few weeks I have be running 3-4 days a week, with Monday, Wednesday and Friday being rest days.  I decided that I wanted to run more this week so I changed it to Monday/Wednesday shorter runs but with more speed, and I kept Friday as my dedicated rest day during the week.

That means that today I ran 2 miles in a time of 14:42.  I glanced at my watch when I finished the first mile and saw that I did it in about 8:00 so I picked up the speed until I was going as fast as I felt I could sustain and held that for the last 800m, and I ended up doing the second mile in about 6:42.  I thought that was a good run for a quick 2 miler.  Tomorrow I will be running 3 miles again but at a comfortable pace to make sure I run the entire distance.

Thought For The Day:

So I have been thinking about something recently.  Is living a life with goals the best way to achieve what we aim for?  Is the best way to get somewhere in life to set obtainable goals, then increase them?

I think for me this is a good way to stay motivated, because setting a goal like "run a 5k in 15 minutes" is harder to work for, but saying "run a 5k in 21 minutes" then once I get that I am for 20 and so on is much more achievable and I am able to say I have accomplished goals I have set.

Questions for the Reader!

- What goals do you currently have?

- When is your next race?

- What is a tradition of yours on race day?

Until tomorrow, happy and safe running!

Brett