One good thing about running two 10 mile races two weeks apart, is that I’ve had enough time to reflect on things I did right/wrong in the last race, but not so much time that I’ve forgotten them! Here I six things that I learned from my last race (the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler), that I hope to apply to my next race (the GW Parkway Classic).
- Pre-race fueling and hydration. I ate well in the days leading up to the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, and focused on drinking plenty of water the day or so before. I felt well-fueled during the race and, best of all, did not have any post-race GI issues.
(I have decided that I was hit by a bug on the Monday after. I refuse to accept the possibility that I could have a delayed reaction that was that severe.) - Race outfit. For the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, I wore a short-sleeved tech shirt, my CW-X compression shorts, and my Zensah calf sleeves, with a throw-away sweater to keep me warm before the start. Although I was chilly waiting for the start gun to go off, I was warm before the end of the first mile. I am ignoring the forecast for upper 30s/low 40s Sunday morning and planning on a similar outfit.
- Race logistics. My husband dropped me off at the race about 50 minutes before the start. This was enough time to warm-up and soak up some pre-race energy, but not so much time that I got hungry or cold waiting around (like I had at the Army Ten Miler). I think being dropped off about 45 minutes before the start is just about right.
- Pacing. I didn’t really have a race goal in mind before the race, and I hadn’t figured out target split times. I started out way too fast, and maintained that “too fast” pace for the first 5 miles–too bad it was a 10 mile race! I have a pace in mind for the GW Parkway Classic, and I will make myself slow down if I start out too fast. I will make myself slow down if I start out too fast. I will make myself slow down if I start out too fast.
- Equipment. I had bought a new water bottle to use in my One Direction fuel belt during the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, but when I ducked under a chain to take a short-cut to the race staging area, the spout snapped off. I wasn’t prepared to rely on the water stations, so I ran the first 6 miles carrying a disposable bottle of water. That was annoying and deprived me of the Gatorade I had planned to sip during the race. I bought yet another new water bottle for the GW Parkway Classic. Hopefully I won’t lose it between now and Sunday!
- Breathing. By the end of Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, my breathing was difficult, and I knew it wasn’t just because of the exertion. Right after I finished, I had a few asthma-style coughing fits. I made an appointment with my pulmonologist (my exercise-induced asthsma has been dormant since 2006!) and got some prescriptions to help my lungs work better, including some albuterol to use before running.
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Do you try to apply “lessons learned” to your next race, or is every race too different?
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