It’s that time of year again and Fun Run season is fast approaching. Regardless of whether you’re a well-travelled marathon runner or a first-time “I’m not even sure if I can run five metres” runner, preparation is essential. A training program can help you to build your endurance and speed and below are some practical things you can do to get yourself ready for the big day:
- Set yourself a goal, such as a timeframe you’re hoping to finish the run in, or a pace you want to maintain. If this is your first Fun Run, you may simply aim to run the whole 5kms without stopping, or even half! Set your goal so it’s challenging but not impossible.
- Test all your gear before the day. You don’t want to be that person who rocks up to the Fun Run with your brand-new sneakers that end up giving you blisters! Go for at least one run in the gear you’re planning on wearing, just to make sure everything is comfortable for the big day.
- Eat, drink and sleep well in the week leading up to the run and ensure you have a rest day before so your body is ready to go the next morning!
- On the day make sure you are well hydrated. Drinking a litre of water right before the race starts is not the way to go, so make sure you start hydrating 24 hours or even the week before the event.
- Warm up before you start and make sure you’ve done plenty of stretching to avoid injury. Furthermore, don’t rush from the start line. It can be very tempting to push too hard, too early so try instead to find a comfortable pace and stick to it, preserving your energy for the run ahead.
- Afterwards, rehydrate! You can lose lots of water through sweating, so remember to keep drinking water even after the race has finished. Stretching is also important after a big run. It can help improve muscle recovery and prevent aching muscles the next day.
The main aim of a Fun Run is to have fun, so on the day just relax and enjoy it!