Philadelphia Marathon Weekend
Three great races on tap over this Philly Marathon weekend
Who’s ready for the Philly Half Marathon and Marathon this weekend?
Half Marathon Checklist
If you’re unsure about how to get to Philly, what to do for a warmup routine, or what you can bring or shouldn’t bring, then you’re in good company. Everyone else is in the same boat as you.
It’s hard to decide what to wear to stay warm before the race and what to wear during the race. My best suggestion for you is to bring options. If it’s really cold on the morning of the race, you will want to have layers. If it’s a bit on the warmer side (not likely), then having those options available is necessary too.
When in doubt, it’s always better to have than to have not. So grab a pair of sweats that you should have thrown out years ago and wear them as your top layer. After you warm up, you can ditch the clothes you should have ditched a long time ago and the race will donate your clothing to those in need.
Do NOT head into the city in just your shorts/tights/half tights and expect to have a successful race. There is too much time between you having to be there and race time for you
How to Be Efficient on Race Day
Race day is not the time to do something you’ve never done before. Stick to the same pre-run routines you’re accustomed to following and you can expect similar race results. That means do the same or similar warmups you are used to. It means eating similar things to what you’ve done on your longest long runs {assuming they went well}.
Getting solid race day results requires you to be smart about what you do on race day. Here’s what I learned from my race that can help you do your best.
Recover Like a Champ
After your race, you’re likely to be sore, tired, and ready for a dang meal.
The recovery process starts as soon as you cross the finish line so it’s really important that you keep this in mind. The first two things I would do after finishing: get warm by putting on dry clothes and then by getting food into your system. The sooner you can get those two things started, the faster you’ll be able to recover.
After you get food and dry clothes, start focusing on hydrating and stretching. If you have access to a massage gun, now is the time to start doing that.
Most importantly, have fun. The course is great and the experience is memorable. I hope the weather gods look favorably upon you and each and every one of you racing has the race you’ve trained for!
Friday’s Action Plan
Remember what training you’ve been able to accomplish during this training cycle and make a race goal that matches that training.
What Has My Attention:
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…And From the Newsletter:
Take Your Recovery Runs Seriously
Quote of the Week:
“However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special, and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then…even thought impossible.” - Sir Roger Bannister
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