How To Prepare Yourself for A Run

"Running is nothing more than a series of arguments between the part of your brain that wants to stop and the part that wants to keep going."

There are different types or distance when it comes to running such as long run that includes running from 3k-21k and also there's the normal run which you do for exercise.

It is one of the simplest exercise in the world that anyone can do.

All you need is motivation and proper preparation before the run.

I attended this 5k Challenge last June 2018 which held at PICC Roxas Boulevard, Manila and I am happy that I finished 8th placer for all categories and also the 1st place in the female category.

How am I able to do that?

So for today, I would love to share with you my tips on how to prepare yourself for a run.

1) DIET

It doesn't specifically say that you should cut your calorie intake and do some dieting.

When you are preparing for a long run or race, you should eat a lot of complex carbs, which means starchy foods like whole wheat bread, pasta, oatmeal, and quinoa as an alternative to rice.

Avoid junk foods because it turns food to sugar that can lessen your energy when the race is on.

Try to eat a big meal 12-15 hours before the run so that your body can store energy that it needs.

2) HYDRATE

I think this should not be mandated not only for those preparing for a run but should be a lifestyle.

People should at least drink 2 Liters of water every day to be able to hydrate yourself.

So if you're in a race, you should be able to drink 4-8 ounces of water every hour every day before your race.

It is not necessary to drink lots of water before the time of your race because it will leave you bloated along the way.

3) LIGHT OUTFIT

If you still don't have any running outfits before the race, you should look for it and find the lightest one.

Choose for shorts and racer back/sleeveless top that you feel comfortable wearing.

In order to not feel exhausted in the middle of the race, wearing this can help your body temperature to cool a bit and it can prevent also dehydration from over sweating.

When it comes to shoes, always choose the one fit for running and also fit your shoe size because it is the most important gear for you to be able to finish the race.

Without a good quality and perfect fit shoes, there might be trouble that you can encounter along the way.

4) EXERCISE

This one is my personal tip as I usually workout before my race.

When working out, I always start with running on the thread mill for 10 minutes or longer so I can track down how many minutes I am able to run for a particular mile.

After this, I also work out my core so I am able to sustain the strength and agility to prepare me for the long run.

I take 5-10 minutes each for abs, glutes, thighs, and arms so I am able to balance everything.

I do this 2-3x a week before my race, so my body won't be shocked or surprise with the changes when I am doing the long run.

5) SLEEP

I am one of the people that are quite excited when I have a race coming in and sometimes we neglect our sleep before that.

So my advice to everyone that we should have an adequate sleep or at least 8 hours of sleep night before the race, so our body will be able to gear on the next day.

It helps also relax all your muscles in preparation to the race.

***

Did you also have an experience joining a race/long run?

How was it?

Can you give some tips how you able to conquer it?

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for reading.

XOXO

ZARRAH

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