The Power of Preparing for Athletic Events for Everyone!

Yesterday, I ran the Cow Harbor 10k race in Northport with my nephew Kyle, it was great fun with it’s moments of great challenge.

Here were the results:

Now, you won’t find me in the early results, I came in a 1:01 while my nephew came in at 49 minutes. I was right on his tail I just happened to come in 12 minutes behind him. LOL.

I am not exactly an accomplished runner and haven’t run since I was in my early 20′s on a regular basis, but trained for the past month or so, when I decided last minute to run the race. My nephew is headed to college next year and I was determined to run this with him.

Unfortunately I only saw his back side at the start of the race then not again until we were celebrating the finish.

Here are the things I learned and was reminded of:

1) When you are running hills, train on hills!

2) When you are running in the morning, training mornings, so that you are adapted to the time and temperature of that time of day. (I like to run at night; no wonder; you are so much more warmed up and have momentum by that time.

3) Make sure your running shoes are in great shape too. Mine weren’t bad but were feeling a bit flat.

4) Make sure you’re vital energy is high, as well as that you are well nourished before the race, but not full (I could have used some more sleep).

5) Make sure overall you have the right amount of training time before you attempt a race like this. I admit it was a bit last minute during an intense time in my life, and an added stress, but sometimes, you got just break ground.
…

I am a bit sore today because of all the hills; one actually forced me to walk but that won’t happen next year. I have taken stock of all the factors that resulted in my actual time, which was over my training time. I’ve factored in everything from lifestyle to stress, to tactics above, to shoes, to sleep, to training style and length of training and have lots of room to improve.

The great things about sports is that it’s a metaphor for life; what we learn competing against ourselves, and others (especially when it’s your nephew – my reptilian competitor does not care if he’s 25 years younger than me) and preparing for athletic events, can apply in your life whether or not you are into sports or even a fitness enthusiast.

I have rarely seen someone, particularly those who don’t identify as one who would ever participate in an athletic event event never not be exhilarated by completing such an event. The beauty is, preparing for athletic events are the most powerful influence on making changes in your lifestyle.

When a performance lifestyle becomes a status quo for you, no matter what your circumstances or fitness level, you’ll start preparing for athletic events (frankly every event ) throughout the year, and change your lifestyle accordingly and enthusiastically.

I haven’t done a public athletic event in a few years due to the fact that I’ve been making some big and deep life changes that have taken me into the realm of the deeply emotional (marked by the work I am doing with the book, The Curse of the Capable.

I am still in a residual period of change and getting comfortable with a new and improved sense of self, that lately has been getting some tests; but this year should be a period where local endurance events will be back in my life!

Only now, I am participating from a position of strength.

Set some bigger goals with me (bigger than weight loss and getting fit) and your lifestyle (weight, diet, exercise and training) will most likely follow.

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Filed Under: Featured • News • Performance Lifestyle

Tags: Cow Harbor 10k Race 2010, Running