Confessions of a Coach 18 - "It's Time!"

Confessions of a Coach 18 - "It's Time!"

Well, we are almost to Race Day! Wow, what a journey it has been. It is a true honor and joy to get to run with each of you! I'm amazed by all of you. A "Big Thank You" for letting me Coach you and for trusting the process. I've been blown away by your commitment! It takes a lot of heart to run and to take care of yourself. Give yourselves a Big pat on the back for a job well done! Some of you have gotten injured during your training, and I've been very impressed with your ability to back off, change plans, and to take care of yourself while recovering. Part of being a real runner is learning your body and knowing when to stop - it's about taking care of yourselves. There's always another race and another goal!
OK, since I've had my rear end handed to me, more than once, in my training for the last several months, I now have new wisdom to share about racing. :)- I want each one of you to take a minute to reflect on where you came from when you started your training. I remember a lot of you were barely able to run a minute before gasping for air... NOW you are about to take on 13.1 to 26.2 miles :) Goals are good, but don't let them rule your run! I've always said, I love training for a marathon more than I love the marathon itself. It's true, the bond that you make with your running buddies exist without a word being spoken is priceless! It's hard to explain the joy of running, but I know I have a love and hate relationship with it. Running pushes you to your limits and then some! It can build your self-esteem and humble you all on one run. You'll make the promise to yourself that you will never do another race again and the next thing you know you are standing in a race corral, excited to run once more - Running/Training is a journey and can be quite unpredictable! Running buddies are great, and for most of you this your first big race, but don't feel committed to anyone but yourself. In other words, "Run your own Race!"



Race Day - Tips!
1. Be sure to start slow - you've been trained that way! :) For all of our workouts: hills, speed work, and long runs, I have forced you to start slow, warm up, and then go! If you try to change that on Race day - you will pay for this - your tail end will be handed to you and you will end up missing out on the Fun of the Run: So, start Slow! Let the run come to you, instead of you chasing the run!
2. Line up in the corral at the right location! None of us should be up front or even near the front of the race. Its doesn't matter, you will be chip timed anyway! :)-
3. If you need to stop, slow down or walk, move to the right of the road. Don't make runners struggle to get around you.
4. Say "Thank You" to all the police officers, volunteers, and the folks cheering you on! Especially if you are struggling. Getting out of your head will definitely help you! Being kind to others during the race is one way to do that. The Volunteers are priceless! They will be standing for hours, handing out water and offering kind words of encouragement! So thank them as much as you can. Running with a kind heart will absolutely affect others. The energy we put out during a big race is powerful - so send out some Joy!
5. Leave the iPods at home! Take all the race in. Enjoy the sound of the cheers or my favorite part - the rhythm of our feet hitting the pavement!
6. I can't believe I'm writing this one: Do not take a smoke break!
7. If you keep watching your watch...Take it off and throw it away! Seriously, just check it at mile markers, but if you start to feel let down, obsessed or frustrate with your time ... turn it off - let it go!
8. Be sure to refuel yourself and again don't try anything new!
9. Take it one mile at a time.
10. This race benefits the Scottish Rite Hospital. Try to remember that you're running for the kids. Your getting to do something that a lot of them might never get to do! So be grateful and mindful because we get to be the ones out here doing something we were born to do - "Baby, We Were Born To Run!"



*Notes to my runners!
Relay Team - Have Fun! Do not run by the marathoners - laughing, jumping-up hitting streets signs, and trying to high five the crowd at mile 19+. LOL
Half Marathoner's - You guys have been trained on a lot harder courses than you will actually run during this race! We have been on top of 13+ miles a few times! Remember to start easy - you need to run the way you were trained. But when you hit the 10 mile marker at the top of Katy Trail...it really is "All Down Hill" from there - "Run 'Till Ya Puke" Think about all that hill and speed work you put in - Just go for it! Enjoy your run. You're going to surprise yourselves!
Marathoner's - By now, you all know I'm not a candy-coated type of gal! It's going to be some work! A Marathon is threes time harder than a Half, but only twice the distance - crazy, huh. For most of you, this is your first Marathon. SERIOUSLY - your only goal should be to finish...upright! :) Now I'm going to say this LOUD and CLEAR - Start off at a SLOWER PACE than you want to!!! This will be very hard to do. You will be surrounded by 20 thousand runners and it's SOOOO easy to get got up in the excitement and go out fast. At the time, it might feel good, but you will pay a price once you start hitting the high mileage. You will hit a Wall, described by one of the runners in the book "Born to run" as "The Beast" - So, embrace The Beast! ~:) It's True, very True. But it will pass, relax, breath, and keeping moving. The goods news is your body knows and will remember how to get you through some of the toughest part of the Marathon. That's what we've trained on over and over. I know, for a lot of runners, negative thoughts will come at you -Your mind is powerful and it can make YOU or break YOU in a Marathon. So be ready for those negative thoughts -replace them with something positive. I have read over and over that some of the elite runners have their on little Catch Phrases or Mantras that they use to fight off negative thoughts. So, come up with something of your own to use and be ready to use it. Ok, the one I will use when I meet The Beast" is "What would Rocky Do"-LOL The Marathon is both powerful and rewarding, just know what your about to do is a BIG - BIG - Deal! Again Start Slow and Finish Strong -The End result - A good run!

Coach Nikki :)