WORDS OF WISDOM

I originally wrote these tips regarding running and marathon racing, but I think they apply perfectly well to cycling also. Just a few things that came to mind after my last big race...

1. If you have to change your race, also change your training. I knew the LA marathon was a week later, but I didn't add another long run for no reason other than that I simply didn't want to. Another long run might not have done anything physically, but it would have helped me mentally. And physically, it just might have been what I needed to scrape those extra 9 minutes off my time.

2. Pick a race that has weather similar to that in which you've been training. The heat was hard to deal with, but it wasn't really that hot. That same weather a little bit later in the year (when I had been running regularly in similar conditions) would have been a lot easier. The temperature in LA ended up being close to 80 degrees by the marathon's end, and I hadn't run outside in anything over 40 degrees for months. How could I not expect some kind of consequence? Aside from my legs cramping, the big problem I had during the second half of the race was my heart rate; it was way too high and out of control for the 9-10min/m pace I was running. I knew I couldn't keep it up, but I didn't know how to fix it. Looking back, I think it had a lot to do with the change in climate.

3. Use the race elevation as a basis for how you train. I did that at first. The Mardi Gras Marathon is flat and I was training to run flat. But, I changed the race a month out, and I knew it was going to be running a downhill start. I totally discounted the difficulty of that and figured I'd be fine. I was cocky.

4. Go out slowly, no matter how hard it is on your legs or ego. The start of a marathon is easy. The finish? Not as easy. Keep that in mind.

5. Don't wait until you're hungry to eat. By then, it's almost too late. Of course, you have to be careful to avoid an upset stomach from eating too much, so it's definitely a fine line to balance. But, I waited until mile 18 to finally take down a Hammer Gel and by then I was already kind of done. Why did it take me so long? My stomach was rebelling...but ultimately it was fine, and I should have at least tried to get something down earlier. Let's face it. Gu's are just kind of gross, and they always will be...but you still need them.

6. Numbers don't help with the mind games. If you're feeling sluggish, do your best to ignore the splits and just keep running. It was really hard to see my mile splits go from the 7 minute to 11 minute range. Looking at the numbers afterwards though, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Yeah, I got slower, but at the time I felt like it was a lot worse than it was. Sometimes the numbers can help, but you have to know when to ignore them.

7. As far as vacation enjoyment goes, you'll have more fun if you can stay afterwards instead of get there early. Of course you want some time to acclimate before the race, but afterwards is when you'll be able to relax enough to enjoy a beer. If at all possible (Saturday races!) stay afterwards to thoroughly enjoy your new surroundings.

8. Remember why you're out there. It's not about times and splits and qualifications. Yeah, those things are part of it, but ultimately you signed up because it was something you wanted. Enjoy yourself.

So, I guess that's it for now. None of this is lightening-striking news, but just some things I thought about when falling apart during those last few miles. There isn't much point in wishing you had done things differently, but there are a lot of reasons to try to remember these things for next time...