Posts Tagged ‘road races’

Running Your Best Race Possible

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

I ran a 5k yesterday.  Although I had been doing my normal running, I had not specifically trained for this race distance.  The last time I really raced a 5K was in High School.  So going into this race I didn’t really know what to expect from myself.  I give myself a goal for every race so without knowing what I was capable of I decided my goal to run this race on straight guts, Steve Prefontaine style, and hopefully it would be enough to beat my High School PR.  How else was I going to beat a PR I set a long time ago?

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I started the Sweetwater 420 5K at a pretty good pace.  I had a watch but had not looked at the race course route other than walking past the finish line on my way to the start line.  The race started and a group of about 5 of us left the rest of pack.

At about mile 2 there was one runner that I thought was in 1st but I hadn’t seen him since about mile one.  There was another runner about 10 seconds ahead of me.  There was no one threatening behind me.  I ran by a water station and asked, “Am I the third runner?”  I thought because I hadn’t seen the first place runner in a while there was a chance I was in second.  I thought to myself, ‘If I’m in second then I really need to try to beat this guy.  Winning this race would be awesome!’

I was informed that I was in third place, no sense of urgency to make a move to win this race.  I had seen the runner in front of me look behind him on the last two turns.  I knew he was tired, but so was I.  I began thinking to myself, ‘At least I’ll get a place or a trophy for 3rd overall.  That’s a respectable finish and something I can be proud of.’  I maintained my distance behind the other runner until we came to the final hill to the finish line.  I had parked here so I knew this was the time to make my move…if I really wanted to.  I could see the runner ahead of me slowing down so I began to push it up the hill to make my move.  Halfway up the hill I saw the runner in front of me take a right.  I had thought the finish line was about a 800m straight shot from here!  As I rounded the corner at the top of the hill a race volunteer said to me, “He’s only about 10 seconds ahead of you, there’s 800m left, you can get him!”  My reaction?  A stare of disgust toward him saying, ‘Dude I know.  I just ran up a big hill.  I’m a little tired and not worried about beating him.’  If you are this volunteer, then I am sorry for my dirty look.  Thank you for the cheering me on.  It was my fault, I was not in the right state of mind at the time.

I had given up.  I was settling for placing in the race rather than doing my personal best.  I let someone else beat me.  People beat me in things all the time like decorating or cooking, but this runner may not have beaten me; however, I did beat myself (not funny).  I don’t know if this other runner was better than me.  I didn’t push myself enough to find out.  Not only did I cheat myself but I cheated him too.  After the race he told me that he runs 5Ks just for the competition, to do something competitive on the weekends.  Although he admitted he was very tired at the end, I could have pushed him harder.  I could have challenged him.

I stayed about 50 m behind him the whole race.  Just watching him run faster than me.  Watching and doing nothing about it.  I settled for where I was at. Don’t settle for where you are, keep pushing to the finish line.

I also got some negative reinforcement to help me learn my lesson.  This race gave cool plaques for the overall male and female finishers as well as the the top finisher in each age group.  Of course, me being a male in the fastest age group, 1st place won the overall award and 2nd place was in my age group, leaving me to not be awarded anything.  After the race started and the field spread out my goal had also become to place and receive an award.  I settled for 3rd overall thinking this would be good enough to be recognized, it wasn’t.  I was upset with myself the rest of the day.

So what do you do if you don’t perform to the best of your ability or achieve your goals?  First, experience your emotions and let yourself feel what it is like to not accomplish your goals.  However, don’t linger too long.  Then think practically about the event.  You can’t change what has already happend, so don’t dwell on it, but you can change how you react to similar situations next time.  Learn from your mistakes and let them motivate you to accomplish your goals…next time.

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Running Road Races: Competition

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Since I’ve been telling you about all these great races to run lately I figured it was time to give out some motivation to run those races.  Participating in races is fun no matter what your skill level is.  The thing I like the most about racing is that it allows you to compete, but at your own level with low stakes.  You can choose between competing against yourself, other runners, or just the course.

We don’t get a chance to compete like this anywhere else in our everyday lives.  In your job you are often competing against other people in your company and with other companies but this competition is too high stakes to be enjoyable.  When you compete with others in your company and you win, your peer is the loser.  When you are the loser…well, you’re the loser.  When competing against other companies there is a lot of money and people involved.  Losing this competition can be catastrophic.  Sometimes your relationships with family or friends can seem like a competition.  If they are, someone’s feelings are going to be hurt, making everyone a loser.  Not a safe place to compete.  There are many other forms of competition in our everyday lives, but running races is the safest and most satisfying way.  Even more satisfying than competitive eating!

Another aspect of of racing I like is that it is all on you.  I’m selfish.  The point is, you are racing against yourself (unless you are a professional).  This is why it doesn’t matter what your skill level is.  You are trying to beat yourself and see how fast you can push your body.  There are no other people responsible for how well you do in a race.  This takes mental toughness and inner strength.  You have to believe and be confident in yourself.  Everyone could use more confidence.  Except me of course, I’m already borderline cocky.

Run one of these great races and beat yourself!

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Recon the Race Course

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

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Here are the best ways to recon your running race course, utilizing my military training with running experiences, to help you do the most effective route reconnaissance.  There are four types of recons:  map, ground, foot, and aerial.  Sorry Rocket Man, but capital probably limits you from doing the aerial type of recon so we’ll just stick to the map, ground, and foot recons.  The foot recon is the most preferred method but map and ground recons can be fine substitutes.  If you listen to me you’ll have the best information possible going into the race, Private First Class Runner.

Map Recon: These days there are numerous sources on the Internet to find any type of map.  When I was deployed to Iraq we would even surf google maps to see if there were any bad guys cruising around the streets.  Not really Grandma.  Seriously though, first you need to get a map of the race course from the race website.  These courses are very well drawn out with street names although some smaller races may only have directions in text.  If this is the case, then go to google maps and print off the area your race runs in.  Then take a highlighter and draw out your course.  Isn’t it fun to make crafts!  If you want to mark the distance on your paper map, take out a pieces of string along the route and compare this to the scale at the bottom of the map to measure your distances.  Or you can just got to mapmyrun.com and do it on the computer.  That’s all that website is good for though.  Come back to seriousrunning.com for all things running…minus mapping capabilities.  It’ll come.  Do beware though, the distances on these mapping programs are not very accurate.

Ground Recon: Get a course map and hop in the car to drive the race route.  Make sure you start a new trip on the odometer so you know your distance.  Point out your the easily identifiable landmarks to give you an idea of where exactly you are while running the course.  While racing you always want to maintain situational awareness.  Always know where you are and your estimated time on target.  As you are driving, visual how you will be feeling and what will be going through your head at certain points along the route.  Utilizing this recon technique at night doesn’t make much sense unless you have night vision goggles…or live in Alaska.

Foot Recon: Find out the race course and go for a run.  Try doing it by yourself.  Don’t race it.  Take it easy.  Take is slow to see everything around you.  Focus on what you will be feeling at which points.  Notice all of the hills that you will have to run up.  Notice of all the downhills you can pick up some time on.  Think about the other runners.  Where will they probably be tired?  This is where you want to make your move.  Make sure you don’t put your move point too far from the finish.  You want to be able to make your move earlier than the other runners and sustain it.  The best way to learn is through experience.  Get some ORT, On the Route Training.  The Army is into the whole “acronym” thing.

See you on the objective!

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NYC Marathon Race Entry Fees Increase: Running is Recession Proof

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

recission-running_boston-marathonSo I read in a New York Times Article this morning that the NYC Marathon is raising its registration fees about 17 dollars per entry.  That’s about a 10% increase.  The New York City marathon is a non-profit organization who says they are just trying to break even this year with the entry fee increases.  I guess the entry fees received from participants who apply, but do not get awarded a race number in the lottery system, doesn’t generate enough revenue to cover the cost of them NOT being able to run the race.  The Disney marathon in Orlando also increased their entry fees by 20 dollars this year.  If it’s a poor economy, wouldn’t they decrease race entry fees to entice more price conscious runners to participate?

Nope.  So far this year, marathon and half-marathon races are seeing record race entrants in places like Miami, Houston, and Phoenix, but race promoters are gaining less revenue. One problem is that race entries do not cover the cost of putting on a race; a large portion of the revenue comes from corporate sponsors.   For instance, the NYC Marathon’s race sponsor through 2010 is the embattled Dutch financial services company ING (who sponsor a number of other large races).  Poor preforming or bankrupt corporate sponsors don’t seem to bring in very solid revenue to race promoters.  Weird.

But race promoters are also saying their expensives have gone up.  I had a phrase when I had just returned home from Iraq and was trying to finish separating from the Army, while also applying to grade schools and find a job.  When people would ask me to hang out or do something for them I would say to myself, “Everyone just wants a piece of me.”  I have found in these poor economic times everyone seems to want a piece of us, the consumers.  Gas prices are rising because OPEC isn’t getting enough revenue from our decreased consumption.  Universities are increasing tuition because they aren’t getting the alumni donations they were used to.  Sports players still demand lucrative contracts so  sports ticket prices have had to increase to cover the loss of the amount of fans at games.  When times get tough, everyone wants a piece.  Possibly vendors and service providers now want a piece of marathon promoters.  Why are they going after marathon’s?  Because the amount of race entrants seems to be recession proof.

Why are marathons recession proof?  Well first off, the only cost to a participant is running shoes and an entry fee.  Possibly more people are goal driven in poor economic times.  I imagine a lot of people have more time to train now that they do not have jobs or are working less because the economy is slow.  What a perfect time to attain that goal you’ve always wanted to do.  Marathon runners usually have high annual household income so they aren’t as price sensitive.  I may look further into whether or not marathons are recession proof.  The allure of accomplishing difficult goals will always be demanded.  Plus, it impresses people at job interviews when you put on your resume “marathon running” under interests.  However, in one interview I had the interviewer begin to talk about his extensive marathon running and training.  But when my PR was a good bit faster than his was he kind of got “over” the interview.  I guess it’s like the Army, you always want to be able to out run those you are in charge of.

Let’s pull this country out of its economic slump one marathon mile at a time!  Yes, we ran!

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Drink Up! Water’s on Me!

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

side-waterOn my long run this weekend I ran up behind another runner, in a less than desirable part of town, which made it obvious that we were both on a very long run.  As I approached the other runner I could see her waist band full of water bottles and thought to myself, “How far she is going?!”  I was personally on a 14 mile run in which the only stop I had planned to make was to release some hydration not to add to it.  However, I do have a running friend that has constructed a map of every water fountain, hose, cooler, and runner friendly establishment in town and plans his runs accordingly.  Now that’s serious.  Maybe I’ll get him to post the map.   I bet mapmyfun doesn’t have this capability.  I wouldn’t know though, I never go to that lame website.

The other runner and I began talking.  She was going about 14 miles as well and asked me the question, “You don’t have any water?!”  She was amazed that I didn’t have any for a 14 mile run which lead me to thinking, how come I didn’t have any water?  I did know of two water fountains along my route but I didn’t stop at them.  What makes me different?  What are techniques that may allow me to go a little farther without water?  It is surely not due to my genetic make-up.  Just ask anyone who has had to post up on me in a game of basketball or sit in a chair I have recently sat in after a long run, I’m a sweater.  To put it in perspective, it takes me about a 4 mile run in 70 degree weather to make my whole outfit drip with sweat.  Some say it’s heredity, I say it’s body efficiency.  Don’t be jealous that my body knows how to cool itself off better than yours.  My body is a machine, not to mention, my future is so warm, I gotta stay cool…that was lame.  Probably the opposite of cool.

At any rate, not being properly hydrated can lead to fatigue, decreased coordination, and muscle cramping, not to mention more serious implications that can lead to hospitalization and even death.  Hydration is something everyone who is active needs to monitor.  When running long distances over 8 miles it is best to start hydrating a few days prior.  I have found this is the best way to make sure you are ready for your run.  I constantly make sure I am well hydrated.  When I think of my hydration for the day I don’t consider any liquid intake other than sports drink or water.  I have found the best thing to pre-hydrate is to make weak sports drink.  You can buy the powder based sports drink (this is cheaper too) and mix it at half the recommended amount or even less.  This beverage tastes the same, well weaker, and while you are not exercising it allows you to intake more fluids without giving you unnecessary extra calories or electrolytes that you don’t need during the day.  My pre-hydration is why I require less liquids while running.  Don’t hesitate, pre-hydrate.

Consuming large amounts of fluid directly prior to your run is not a good way to hydrate.  You should only drink about 16-24 ounces of fluid before every run.  During your run it is a good rule of thumb to try to drink 6-8 fluid ounces per 20 minutes; however, every runner is different and only you know your body.  I don’t bring water with me on a run unless I am going to run more than 14 miles in a moderate weather day.  However, that’s just my preference, but I don’t even like bringing a house key with me or a even a shirt, they’re just so constricting.  Bring whatever amount of water you feel comfortable with.  Also remember to not let the weather fool you on how much water you bring on your run.  Too often runners think because it is cooler out that they will not sweat as much and therefore do not need to hydrate as much.  This is a misconception which can lead to serious dehydration.  A good rule of thumb is for every pound of weight you lose from sweat (weigh yourself before your workout, then after) amounts to 1 pint of water.  So figure out about how much water you usually lose when exercising and hydrate accordingly.  After your run you should drink from 20-24 ounces, or more simply, until you aren’t thirsty anymore.  Try not to “gulp” down any water but drink it slowly to give your body time to disperse the liquid efficiently.  Just like oil makes an engine run efficiently, water makes a body purr.

Your race hydration amounts are more intense than your normal run but it is good to practice your race day hydration.  Just like your practicing your race pace, practice your drinking rhythm for race day.  Where do you plan to stop for water?  It is good to view a map of your race’s water points so you don’t get caught needing water when it is not available.  Also, when you do get your water I have found it is more beneficial to slow down or walk when you drink it.  It doesn’t take that much time and your body with thank you for not giving it a shockingly huge gulp of water as it is banging itself up and down on the pavement.  Slowing down also gives you a chance to make sure you are drinking the correct liquid that you chose to.  I ran a marathon that had red bull girls handing out red bull at the water stations.  The problem was that Red Bull’s hired help was a lot more attractive than the race volunteer staff.  It took about 4 cups of red bull for me to realize that none of the good looking girls had water or sports drink.  Did that mean I stopped getting red bull?  No, I just stopped drinking it.  Drink up!

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Falconhead Capital to Purchase Marathons

Wednesday, January 14th, 2009

Falconhead Capital is a private equity firm that specializes in investing in the consumer, leisure/lifestyle, and media sectors. Recently, Falconhead Capital purchased the three year old Denver Marathon along with the Rocky Mountain Half Marathon, bringing Falconhead Capital’s total ownership to 25 races. Races are not the only thing Falconhead has been purchasing, earlier last year they purchased three endurance companies, forming them into one, called Competitor Group, Inc. The three companies purchased were Elite Racing Inc., the creator of the Rock n’ Roll marathons, La Jolla Holding Group, LLC, owner of triathlete magazine, and Competitor Publishing, Inc. The newly formed company, Competitor Group, Inc., is now the largest endurance sport focused company in the United States. Falconhead Capital said they decided to form Competitors Group, Inc. in order to enter into the endurance sports business because of the very specific and high-end demographic of participants. They point to an age range of 25-54 years old with an average annual income of $75,000-$95,000 in endurance event participants.

This got me to thinking, I’ve always just participated in these races but I never thought about the business side of them? It makes sense that endurance sport participants are a highly desired demographic since they are usually made up of people who have determination, drive, and a work ethic, which probably leads them to success in their professional lives as well. A company as large as Falconhead Capital can use the events to promote their other businesses and private equity firm to this coveted demographic. In addition to the events being great marketing opportunities, the income streams can from many sources such as entry fees, sponsorship, television, merchandise, and fitness expos can make race organizing a very profitable business.

Since I usually don’t finish in the money in these races, running is not a profitable business for me; however, all of us participants should be aware that we are Running this Business.  Support your favorite races and small endurance businesses.

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