Lessons I Learned from Boston's Run to Remember
Getting back into running after over a year hiatus certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Figuring out how to balance training with the fitness classes I teach for work was quite a challenge.
Plus, getting gas pains the morning of the race from nerves and sugar alcohols (thanks Power Bar) is everybody's dream.
There was a point when I wasn't sure I would be able to do it.
But, like I tell my private clients, "During tough times, put one foot in front of the other."
And that's literally what I did.
Let's rewind though---
You may be preparing for a race yourself and wondering, what do I eat beforehand, how do I program my workouts, and probably most importantly, how do I get myself to believe that I can actually achieve such a feat?
I'd be happy to help you on a more personal level, and in the meantime, here are a few general lessons I learned from this race:
1. Stay positive. I was the crazy lady saying out loud, "I can do this, I can do this" as I rounded the corner of the Boston Commons around the halfway point. I swear it helped.
2. Breathe through it. I felt so challenged that I used mindfulness techniques to keep breathing strong and steady.
3. Watch what you eat and notice how you feel, stay hydrated with electrolyte supplements. I definitely experienced a healthy amount of gastric distress; partly a combination of nerves, stress, and diet.
4. Pace yourself. Starting off fast from the get go is one of my greatest weaknesses. For this race, I did my best to tune in with my body's natural rhythm, mixed with quick sprints to get past clusters of people.
5. Enjoy it, have fun, and remember to look up! I liked the course of this run because it took me across the streets of historic downtown Boston.
6. Make an effort to warm up and stretch. The race started and ended in a blink of an eye, making it easy to skip these important steps. Quads, hips, hamstrings, IT Band, calves, and shoulders stretches are key to avoid injury and extreme soreness.
Overall, it was a great race, for a good cause, and I know I couldn't have done it without help. My husband woke up early with me to get us down to the Seaport, plus traveled with me the day before to pick up the race packet. Also, a huge shoutout to my #BalancedRunners for helping motivate and inspire! Running with a group of people is awesome.
