LOLZletter 71 | How to Run Fast during a Virtual Race
Welcome
I appreciate all of the feedback from last week's newsletter about mental health. As one person mentioned, it's important for people to share their stories and show no one is alone. Not even you! So thank you to everyone who wrote back and shared their story.
This week's newsletter is sponsored by Apricot Power. I recently reviewed Apricot Power and the benefits of apricots on the blog. Who knew Apricots helped with eyes, bones, and skin? I just liked the taste! After contacting Apricot Power, they offered readers 20% off. I'm a fan of the Apricot Seeds, but they also have everything from bars to B17 supplements.
This week is back to running, specifically running a fast at a virtual race.
Virtual Race? Time Trial? Chances are your racing will be solo for a while. We all want to run fast, but it can be tough to run hard by yourself. Time trials are a great way to build speed. Glorified time trials or virtual races build a sense of community. Plus many virtual races are put on by well-established race directors or donate money to a charity.
While you might be running alone in a virtual race, you can help build a sense of community and run fast. One component of running a time trial is the ability just to run hard. Maybe even run hard on the same routes you run easy on. A couple of weeks ago, I blogged about how you get the most out of your virtual race.
As the shutdown continues, we are all looking for new ways to push ourselves, so time trials, virtual races, and challenges are increasing. While I'm new to the Strava world, I've found so many fun virtual challenges (maybe too many).
A Few Things that Make Racing Alone Enjoyable:
You get to Choose your race course, start, and whatever you want. This is your dream race.
You can practice different strategies. Maybe you want to experiment with starting slower and charging to the finish, or maybe you want to go out hard and see how long you can hold on. Doing a virtual race or time trial allows you these opportunities with minimal risk.
No pressure. Your Strava results might be recorded, but no one is watching you run hard. It's just you. There isn't a lot of pressure because no one is racing the same course or in the same weather. Even if everyone races on their routes at 9 am, the weather and terrain in Atlanta is different than in Seattle.
So How Can You Run Fast Alone?
We all know how difficult it can be to run alone. There is no one to physically compete with, no one to chase, and no clock staring at you. Sure, you have your own GPS watch, can race at your own time of day, and on your own course, but it doesn't make it any easier to push yourself.
Here are a Few Ideas to Run Faster:
Find your "Speed Route"
I have a loop in my neighborhood, that is roughly 1.5 miles long. I can run two laps +.1 for a 5k or do workouts on it. Just like having speed work shoes, I have a speed work route. When I'm running that loop, my body is more up to running fast. I highly recommend having "the route," it makes it more fun.
Take off your watch (or tape over it):
When you run on a treadmill and see 1 minute, 2 minutes...5 minutes, time goes much slower. Since you are racing alone time, time might feel like it's going much slower. Instead, tape over your watch, so you don't have the time left haunting you.
Treat it Like a Race:
Do the usual things you do for a race. Have your regular pre-race meal, coffee, and whatever other things you do. This allows you to go through all of the emotions of toeing the line.
Finally, Just Run:
There is no substitution for just doing it. You can read all of the advice you want, but you just have to do it for yourself. Like an in person race, once the gun goes off, it's time to go. Last week, I ran my second time trial 5k. During the warmup, I reminded myself: "I'll be running hard the same amount of time I warmed up".
Virtual Races and time trials give you a unique opportunity to run hard on your own terms. Even when in-person events come back, it doesn't mean you have to stop doing your own time trials.
What is Keeping Me Entertained?
Podcast: Clean Sport Collective Ben Rosario, Coach of Team NAZ Elite
Podcast: Ali on the Run Show: Sasha Wolff, Founder of Still I Run, a non-profit organization and online community for runners, whose mission is to raise awareness around mental health
Podcast: I'll Have Another: Amelia Boone
Article: Mary Cain and Nick Willis joins Tracksmith
Article: Speak Up, Speak Out: A Wish for U.S. Running From a Black Marathoner
Article: Kate Grace Now Taking A Positive Approach
Article: Spartan Race Is Back – June 13-14 – Jacksonville, Florida There are some quotes in here that have rightfully created some uproar, including: "If you’re too afraid to live a Spartan life due to a virus then you’re already dead." Do I think we should have 4000 person anythings right now? No.
Mizuno Wave Horizon 4 Shoe Review High cushion, stable shoe review
Finally, thank you again to Apricot Power for sponsoring this newsletter!
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