A few words on Destination races...

If nothing else destination races give you a chance to literally run around and explore new surroundings.

If you sit back and recall your experiences during a recent trip you may have seen quite a lot of your travel destination through the eyes of a tour operator, looking out of a train, car or bus window and maybe even took a moment to talk to a native of the area while standing in line somewhere....

In today’s world travel is accessible and no longer considered a privilege of the moneyed elite. There are travel channels with dozens of shows on television, vacation trade shows, cruise conventions and online travel discounters galore. The sky is literally the limit when it comes to travel.

As runners, we know the journey is as important as, if not more so than the destination. Reaching the finish line isn’t always the point or goal of training to eventually running a race; be it 5K, a full marathon or an ultra distance event. The true experience of running a race is everything that happens from the moment you commit and the moment you stoop to have a medal hung around your neck.

Deciding to run a race is a lot like planning a vacation...there is a sense of anticipation that intensifies as the date draws near. Increasingly, tourists who run and runners who travel have started travelling to “bucket-list” destinations to do two things: go somewhere new and participate in a prestigious running event; and like the age old question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, it’s difficult to determine if the inspiration lies in the destination or the race. In any event; who cares...the point is that destination races are about managing the expectations that come with training and vacation planning.

As I said, it isn't just about the destination...it's about dreaming and working toward getting there. It's about maintaining the motivation to keep your training up, saving your pennies and watching your diet; not only to be an effective runner or a frugal tourist but also to be able to fit into a bathing suit comfortably without spilling out over the waist band - once the race is done it’s R&R time...so be ready to enjoy (and remember there’s nothing wrong with wearing your medal to dinner later that evening)...You earned it!.

A destination race can be as far away or as near to home as you want it to be; however, it should be at least a 4 hour drive away and include, at the very least, one night away from home. Once you have a destination race under your belt you will know that the pleasures you derive from the experience emanate from the sacrifices and hard work it took to get you there. Running the destination race is more about celebrating everything that had to be accomplished from start to finish and not necessarily about how fast you crossed the finish line.

So why not get started, spin the globe; throw a dart at a map or just plan to go someplace you have always wanted to visit. Then check out the local running scene by googling local running stores, running clubs or http://www.marathons.ahotu.com/ to see what, when and where a challenging road race is scheduled to take place. And, be sure to recruit some like-minded road-warriors and adventurous travellers...as I said, everyone loves a destination race...so start spreading the joy.

Once the objectives have been set; each training run, drop of sweat and dollar saved, from there on in, will bring you closer to achieving your goal and experiencing everything that defines your destination race.

It’s a process that’s for sure; but make no mistake the intangibles: the opportunities for personal growth and the much anticipated sense of accomplishment, to name but two, will be priceless once all is said and done. And, years later when you look at the pictures, press the race-bib against your chest and don the medal for old time’s sake you’ll smile to yourself and reflect on the experience...it won’t be the same as recalling a relaxing vacation, instead you will re-live the rush of every moment and appreciate everything that went into getting you there...and by there; I mean the person you are at the time of reflection.

So, unless you’re a misguided youth, or your family owns a circus; it’s très cool to run away from home!

Run Strong!

David (aka F542)

Spring Fever...(and how to avoid it)

Ahh; spring is just a few weeks away...soon time to pack away the winter garb. It’s nice to see some green and of course get reacquainted with our shadows in the evening sun. However, as is the case with race day excitement be careful not to be fooled into going too fast or doing too much too soon. Although the sun may be shining la little longer during the day be sure not to under dress and catch a chill once the sun goes down. Same goes for mileage; don’t ramp up your outdoor mileage too soon if you’ve been training indoors over the winter months...the change in surface and sudden increase in mileage can (and will) lead to injury.

In most parts of North America spring and summer will last for a few weeks; maybe even a month or two, so remember that when you try to cram a week’s worth of mileage into the first few days of spring. So; if you want to have a long and successful warm-weather running season, try to adhere to the following recommendations:

1. Keep your distances and mileage under control. You will feel great and want to run, run, run...but before you do assess your conditioning and apply the 10% rule; don’t increase mileage by more than 10% from week to week.

2. There’s no need to rush, as I said the warm weather should last more than a few days...and remember to keep your pace moderate at the outset..once you shed the outer layers you’ll want to run like the wind. As they say: Speed Kills! Don’t get sidelined before you even get started. Again; develop a spring running plan and stick to it.

3. Assess your footwear; you may need to don a pair of cross-over trail shoes if you plan to run on multiple surfaces; especially if the thaw leaves the ground soft, pot-holed and uneven. Be sure of your footing. There is a big difference between running on hard-frozen ground, snow covered sidewalks, treadmills and unfamiliar spring running surfaces. Again, be wary of your surroundings; you don’t want to be laid-up just when the going gets good!

As with most things running related moderation and pacing are key; And, just like most watches this time of year...spring forward; keep track of time and try not to run too fast.

Happy Trails!

David (F542)