Running out of Time!

Oh No!....2 months, that's all I have left, 2 months!

Last year I participated in the Canadian Death Race,(thanks to the inspiration of good people like the Regiers and Krebs).... thought to myself, how hard could it be?
Well, I am no runner and it turned out to be extremely challenging.
Being the stubborn individual I am , I arrogantly thought, OK ...this time I have a whole year to train ....no problem!

So tomorrow is June, where did the time go?

Don't get me wrong, I have been running through the winter but I would call it dabbling, in a controlled  flat surface environment.

When I looked at the calendar this morning, panic hit my chest!

Luckily, I have been getting some coaching advice from a guy at work who runs triathlons and Ironman races. He has some great advice that I have to stick to...

• First off, have a plan and stick to it. Run every second or third day
• your training should be more difficult than your race day
• you will have bad training days(runs) and good training days
• don't let the bad training days derail you from your plan
• don't compare yourself to other runners (even the guys who pass you...twice!), you don't know how long they have been training and everyone starts off the same, they were at your stage once too.
• the training you choose to do should simulate the race type...meaning if its a trail run, run trails, if its down hill runs...run down hill (makes sense but sometimes I miss the obvious!)
• The distance you run should be longer than the distance you have to race
• Dont ignore injury
• stretch!
• measure your progress and track your progress...good days and bad
• don't worry about how many kilometers are ahead of you or how many you have done, think about completing the kilometer you are running and focus on that task alone.
• Relax, don't let anxiety overtake, a race is about the mental game as much as the physical game.

I have run with him a couple times during lunch,.. actually , I ran he did a brisk walk beside me, little embarrassing! anyways, great advice and a great motivator.

I have come to realize this advice is not unlike that of preparing for your Black Belt Grading. Very much applicable!

I can do this!!