I can’t take credit for this list. Rita (our group leader) just sent them to everyone in our Frontrunners training group. I’ve included my own comments though.
TRUTH #1: long runs get you to the finish line. I just love hitting the pavement (or better yet the trail) for hours at a time, especially with running partners. I could run for a couple of hours by myself, but I’d really rather have company!
TRUTH #2: rest days keep you healthy. Oh boy I found this out the hard way a couple of weeks ago when I did 8-workouts in six days, then crashed and burned
one Saturday after a long run, spending most of the day in bed.
TRUTH #3: cross-training lets you work while you rest. I cannot run more than 2 or three times a week any more – too hard on my feet. I need spin classes, weights, climbing, biking, etc to keep my heart rate up the rest of the days.
TRUTH #4: pace work is critical to race success. I haven’t done enough of it in the past, so I have either gone out too fast or too slow for a race. We’ll see how much better I judge my pace this year.
TRUTH #5: speed training can help you to a personal best. I’ve tried to do hills and speedwork on my own in the past, and ran into pacing problems: I tried to be TOO speedy. One time I trained for a marathon and had to abandon training because of a knee problem. This time, the Frontrunners group has been an eye-opener – a pleasant one. The hills and tempo runs have been much “easier” than I expected.
TRUTH #6: just plain running is the staple to your program. Like the Zen master says: if you are eating, just eat. If you are running, just run. Or, as a wise friend pointed out to me last week: you are a writer – because you write.
TRUTH #7: weekly distance doesn’t have to be mega distance. I already knew this from my two previous half-marathons. I ran at most three times a week for those races, however I didn’t do enough cross-training then.
TRUTH #8: step back help you step up your training. This is a new one for me too. We’ve been building up to a 1:45 run this Saturday, but the following week is only an hour for the long run.
TRUTH #9: racing builds experience. I’ve run a lot of races, but I’m still so nervous at the starting line I line up at the biffies three times before the starting gun goes!
TRUTH #10: the taper is the time to recover and refuel for peak performance.
TRUTH #11: motivation holds it all together. I think those who know me would agree: this year I am nothing if not motivated! I’ve signed up for the Vancouver Half-Marathon on May 3, and the Royal Victoria Marathon on Oct 11.
ENTRY FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE, NON-TRANSFERABLE AND NON-DEFERRABLE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
By the way – the picture is me with Ravi – an Olympic athlete who competed Beijing last summer. I’ll sheepishly admit I didn’t follow his progress. RBC – an Olympic sponsor, had a traveling exhibition in summer ’07 and I took my kids when they hit Victoria. We had a great time. It was very motivating!
