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<\/p>\nSo I had a lovely, lovely *deepthought* type post planned for today and then today happened – a 2.5 hour dentist appointment, a super busy (and late) day at work, and I’m not in any capacity to do anything but shallowthought.\u00a0 So hopefully tomorrow I’ll scoop out my brainpan and throw it all over.\u00a0 Today, something a little lighter.<\/p>\n
I’ve gotten a few requests for half marathon advice.\u00a0 I’ve posted EXTENSIVELY on the training methods and emotions and play by plays of my runs and whatnot, but here are some random right before\/during\/right after the race advice I can pull together from the last race and both training endeavors. In no particular order and absolutely not inclusive of all advice – just what’s off the top of my head, I present my tips and tricks.\u00a0 Not including having this chasing you (I know I’d get a PR fo sho…)<\/p>\n
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1.\u00a0 Bring slippers to the race.\u00a0 There is nothing like getting out of those shoes you just ran 13.1 miles in and putting on something fuzzy.\u00a0 Bring a change of clothes too.\u00a0 Generally you will be too tired to care, but if you’re exceptionally sweaty or it’s rainy or muddy or if you might just feel like NOT wearing what you spent the last 2+ hours running in, it’s nice to have the option.\u00a0 Especially if it’s a long way home.<\/p>\n
2.\u00a0 Mentally prepare and visualize a perfect race day, and then realize it’s going to be anything but.\u00a0 I was so late to my first half marathon my warmup was a half mile all out sprint to the start line and I had to haggle with the race officials to let me cross the timing start since they were taking it down.\u00a0\u00a0 Not a graceful start at all.\u00a0 I’ve run 5ks in pouring rain and one course had sticks in part of the path.\u00a0 Yeah, it’s as uncomfortable as it sounds to run on.\u00a0 Shit is going to happen.\u00a0 Whatever it is, you are a rockstar and you can recover from it.\u00a0 Don’t let anything shake you.\u00a0 This is your damn day.<\/p>\n
3.\u00a0 Don’t plan anything after the race.\u00a0 You might be totally rarin’ to go and that’s cool, but you might also be so drained you can barely walk.\u00a0 My first 10k, I was so pumped after we did a big long bike ride that same day.\u00a0 Same after some of my double digit runs – I do believe I did a 11 mile run and a 20+ mile ride in the same day.\u00a0 After the half?\u00a0 WIPED the fuck out.\u00a0 Just wanted to eat massive amounts of food and then go home and spend the evening with my butt planted on the couch.<\/p>\n
4.\u00a0 DO NOT DIET the week of your race.\u00a0 I know you’re running less.\u00a0 I know the scale might get angry with you.\u00a0 Make sure to ingest lots of awesome healthy food and ignore the fact you’re only running what feels like a warmup.\u00a0 Whatever was working for you before, keep it goin’.\u00a0 Also, splurge after the race.\u00a0 You don’t have to eat the moon, but definitely take the opportunity to have something yummy.\u00a0 I mean, you just burned over 1500 calories if you ran a half marathon, and even if you ran a shorter race – you just ran the hardest you ever have in your life!\u00a0 Get THAT THING that you have been salivating over.\u00a0\u00a0 This is THE DAY for it.<\/p>\n
5.\u00a0 Speaking of eating, eat something the night before that you know is not going to bother your tummy.\u00a0 My meal was steak, fried shrimp, mashed potatoes, a loaf of bread, and salad.\u00a0 Nothing spicy, which is difficult for me, and nothing from a questionable food cart.\u00a0 I went with a chain steakhouse I’ve eaten at dozens of times.\u00a0 Most people say stay away from so much protein and fat, but it did me great.\u00a0 For me, it was VITAL I did not wake up hungry because I won’t get up early enough before the race to eat anything substantial (grumble grumble stupid early start times grumble grumble).<\/p>\n
6.\u00a0 Even if you’re not going to eat a full meal in the morning, eat something.\u00a0 A protein bar or a normal AM type snack for you is good.\u00a0 Something you’ve eaten close to working out and been ok.\u00a0 And make sure to hydrate.<\/p>\n
7.\u00a0 What does eating lead to… hmmm?\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah.\u00a0 Try to #1 and #2 as many times as you can before the race, #2 mostly.\u00a0 It disturbed me I could not do the later for about 24 hours before the race and I was SO EFFING scared I was going to have to stop during the race but my body did me alright.\u00a0 But make sure you give yourself the chance.\u00a0 Once you get going the sweat should balance out the need to pee so just make sure you go before the race and you should be fine.<\/p>\n
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8.\u00a0 Don’t get to the end of the race and don’t get your time reported because you went the wrong way!\u00a0 Or, you might feel like this guy above.\u00a0 If you have questions while running, ask the race officials.\u00a0 I don’t know how many people got DQ’d on the last race but it was quite a few… it was definitely a confusing course.\u00a0 The officials are there to help, don’t worry that you look stupid.<\/p>\n
9.\u00a0 Do whatever feels good after the race.\u00a0 Sure, you’ll recover faster if you keep moving.\u00a0 But honestly?\u00a0 Who cares!\u00a0 You just blew your load.\u00a0 You ran your big race.\u00a0 You’re probably not going to run for a few days, so don’t push yourself.\u00a0 I collapsed about 100 feet after the finish line, rested, got up, hobbled to the water cooler, collapsed again, drank about 10 glasses of water, hobbled to a bench, and stretched.\u00a0 I tried to do the post race thing but what I really wanted was to sit, so I left.\u00a0 See #3 about not planning anything.<\/p>\n
10.\u00a0 Give yourself a break.\u00a0 If you push yourself to the limit and give 110% (or do some other cheesy sports cliche phrase type thing), it’s going to take a while to get your mojo back.\u00a0 Do some easy cross training\u00a0 the next week.\u00a0 Maaaaybe some really easy jogging-like runs.\u00a0 It is going to take a WHILE to want to go either FAST or FAR.\u00a0 You just spent 3 months doing some really intense things with your body.\u00a0 Give it the recovery time it needs.\u00a0 Go swimming.\u00a0 Ride your bike.\u00a0 Take up dancing.\u00a0 These are the things I did for about a MONTH before I started running again.\u00a0 I wondered if I would ever run again like I did before that month.\u00a0 But a few months later, after resting a bit, I shredded my 5k time by almost a full minute (and more in practice).\u00a0 And you know how strong I’m feeling lately.\u00a0 So no matter how weak you feel shortly after, know you WILL recover.\u00a0 Chill out and do some active recovery.<\/p>\n
Other little tidbits?\u00a0 Smile during the race.\u00a0 You love this.\u00a0 This is your day, and you are carpe-ing it.\u00a0 Run hard, leave it all on the course, and have fun.\u00a0 Enjoy the course (personally, I DON’T study courses which is so all against my controlling, type-A ness, but for some reason, I like the surprise that day and rolling with it).\u00a0 Cheer other runners on if you get the chance.\u00a0 Double knot your laces so they don’t come undone.\u00a0 Carry at least one 100-calorie pure sugar source.\u00a0 Don’t train with any sports drink – it’s so much better to be able to use it as your ace in the hole.\u00a0\u00a0 Lift your hands and celebrate wildly when you cross the finish line – it’s unlikely anyone will get a proper picture of it, but they’re cool when they come out.<\/p>\n
Any silly or random race tips to share?\u00a0 Any more serious specific half marathon or race questions you want me to answer – I mean – I’m not an expert, but this will be my 7th race in a year, so it’s not my first BBQ, so I’ll be happy to share any biased and twisted wisdom I can.<\/p>\n