Make History
My 10 year old nephew was giving me the highlights of one of his baseball games this season. He told me he earned the game ball. When I asked why, he proclaimed, “Because I had an epic catch.”
As I marveled over the Olympians this week and their epic feats, I realized we all have the potential to be gold medalists in our own way. It is never too late to try a new sport or push your body to its physical limits.
Training for the Deer Dash would be a great start for a newcomer to the sport. If you are a veteran, now would be the time to go for a personal best. With about 12 weeks to go, you would not only be ready to compete, but could reap many rewards.
If you are a new runner, consult your doctor first. If you are physically ready, then start walking. Set a goal during your walk and try to run to the nearest stop sign or telephone pole. When your breathing gets labored, stop and walk again. Try this several times during your run to increase endurance and speed. It won’t be long, and you will be running for longer than you are walking.
Try to walk/run for at least 30 minutes, three days a week for the first 2-3 weeks. After that, and for the next 4-6 weeks, add about 5 minutes to your routine so that you are walk/running about 35 minutes. Increase your frequency to 4- 5 days a week. By weeks 7 and 8 you should be up to walk/running for 40-45 minutes, 5 days a week.
For experienced racers, now is the time to go for your best time. Tune in to Olympic track and field, triathlon and other running events to get motivated. Use this as a training run for a 10K or half marathon.
With several weeks before the big day, runners still have plenty of time to fine tune their pace. If you don’t know the route, find out what it is. Set a per mile goal that is slightly faster than what you have been doing. Continue to add distance and/or speed to each training run. Remember to be realistic. Don’t compare yourself to other runners. You want to run YOUR best race.
After 12 weeks of training you should be ready for your event. Although not all Olympians or Deer Dashers may go home with a medal, they are rewarded with a feeling of achievement of epic proportions. You will be too!
More details on the Deer Dash can be found in this issue of The Monticello News. For other questions or concerns email: suzannemcginnis@me.com.