Final Preparation...

Are you ready for Sunday? Here are some reminders and notes for the weekend...

Packing: Think of all the steps and things you’ve needed for each of our long runs and make sure those items are packed for Sunday morning. Don’t forget your GU, sports drinks, shoes, Glide, running belt (if you use one), running gear, change of clothes after the race, etc. A friend in Columbus said Sunday morning is supposed to be very cool. Pack both cold and moderate temperature running gear. Click here for Columbus weather.

Carb Loading and hydration starts today! Make sure every meal contains whole grain carbs and plenty of water from now through breakfast on Sunday. Remember, we need half our body weight in ounces of water for optimal hydration. A 150 pound person should be drinking at least 75 ounces, or slightly more.

Your Race Plan: Mentally plan out how you’re going to run on Sunday. Take caution in starting too aggressively (which is likely to biggest reason for a slower than anticipated time). It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the event...or have your competitive juices kick in when the gun goes off...or even to just forget to check your pace with each mile marker.

When you start too fast, your body shifts into your anaerobic energy system immediately, bypassing the aerobic system, quickly depleting your top energy system. At a slower, aerobic energy system pace, you can go for a long period, then when you’re ready to kick up your pace, you’ll have several miles of your top energy system available.

Plan your race out in segments and make sure you have plenty of gas in the tank for the home stretch. Check your times at each mile. For example, if your goal is to finish in 2 hours and 20 minutes, you should be averaging about 10:30 per mile. Your first mile will be around 10:30, second mile at 21 minutes, third mile around 31:30, etc.

Start slow. You can always pick up the pace later.

For those who’d like to fraternize Saturday night and after the race on Sunday….

Saturday’s Dinner: We have reservations at Buca Di Beppo, located at 343 North Front Street, at 7:30 for dinner. Click here for map and directions. The restaurant’s number is 1-614-621-3287. Please confirm with Leigh (leigh@healthstylefitness.com) that you are coming so we can formalize our reservations.

Sunday’s Post-race Lunch: We’re heading over to Champps, located at 1827 Olentangy River Rd. Click here for map and directions. Or you can just follow us over (no reservations needed).

Contacting us in Columbus: You can reach me at 513-325-0886 and Leigh at 513-255-7308.

Remember on Sunday Morning…

The hard part is done.
Have fun.
Enjoy the experience.

Don't think about the 13.1 miles - chunk it down.
One mile at a time.
One minute at a time.
One step at a time.

The only thing you have control over on Sunday are the thoughts that enter your head – your preparation is done - your nutrition is done - your clothes you are going to wear are figured out - it's just your thoughts that are left.

Keep them positive and you cannot lose.

Sunday - you'll be a Half Marathon Champion.