1. Make a sign for your friends and family to brandish as you race past them. I designed this one myself.
2. Watch an inspiring sports film the night before. I suggest "Rudy" or, preferably, "Chariots of Fire."3. Actually do the training prior to the race. 13 miles feels a lot better when you have actually done a little running beforehand. No matter how awesome you were at cross country in high school, the memories of athletic skill gone by won't help you finish without limping (or hurling).
4. Try not to eat too much roughage the night before. As attractive as port-a-potties are, you do not want to make one your best friend in the middle of the race.
5. Imagine every spectator is personally cheering you on, and give them a high five or fist pump as you run by. Alternatively, imagine that you are the star of a documentary about yourself and how awesome you are!
6. Prepare an awesome music set list to run with. I recommend Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" to both start and end a race (on a side note, I just learned that the lyrics say "and the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night..." I always thought it said "...sticks his bread in the knife." I realize that my version didn't make much sense, but it still pumped me up)
7. Take a short walking break during each aid station-- about 15 seconds or so. It gives you something to look forward to and will help you run faster miles in between.
8. Remind yourself that you get to eat whatever you want once you finish the race. Like 4 donuts and some Ben & Jerrys!
9. Enjoy the interesting people around you. Racing is great people watching time. I was running for a short time with a woman who was running her 120th marathon! There are some great stories to be discovered if you pay attention.
10. Have a beautiful baby waiting for you at the finish line. Now that is worth running for!
3 comments:
Congratulations! Good for you!!! (But I think I'll just learn through you instead of actually learning for myself hands on...!) :)
I like "sticks the bread with a knife better." Carbs are a good thing to look forward to as you start, or cross the finish line!
I keep giggling to myself after our conversation in the car today. What it would look like for bread to get stuck into a knife (instead of sticking a knife into bread)? I keep envisioning a lonely knife, sitting vertically on a table, and then a "last known survivor" comes up and energetically throws down a loaf of bread on top of the knife blade...and the crowd goes wild! Ha!
Congrats on completing the half-marathon! It sounds like you had a great time.
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