![]() On Saturday, January 27th I ran in my 4th 5K marathon race. It was in San Juan Bautista. This specific race was the 40th year to benefit local scholarships and charities. San Juan Bautista is a small California Mission town about 50 miles south of San Jose. The race started and finished in front of the San Juan Mission. Being there actually brought up memories of when I took photos for the website of my wedding gown company. This was back over ten years ago, so it has been a minute. But it’s funny that the mission still looks exactly the same. I knocked off 8 minutes from my overall last race time! This is huge. So it is proving that I am getting a little faster. We also were able to set my pace, so I could do a little better each mile. Running a race is different than running a sprint. You have to think about your pace. You don’t want to over exert yourself early on to make sure you have enough energy to finish the race completely. I have a goal to increase my overall pace so I can, yes, get faster but also get stronger in the process. Pre-Ritual: My pre-ritual this time around was eating carbs. Having the carbs before the race helped me have a spike of energy before the race. Carbs are converted to sugar for the body. Unlike coffee/caffeine for energy, carbs will help you sustain energy throughout the day. And in this case it helped me throughout the run. Not all carbs are created equal. So you need to make sure you eat some like oatmeal (which also has fiber). I also put peanut butter in my oatmeal to add in some extra protein. Once again I used liquid IV in my water before and after the race. This way I went into the race hydrated. Once again choosing electrolytes over coffee. My process is supported by research I have done. Laurel Leicht writes on Health.com, “What you eat before your run—as well as during and after—is crucial to helping you feel good, pick up your pace, and recover quickly.” https://www.health.com/fitness/what-to-eat-before-running During the Race: During the race it is important to pace yourself so you do not get burnt out or have a stomach cramp. If you do get pain you want to lift your arms above your head. Lots of people have a misconception about drinking a lot of water if they get a cramp. But this is actually the opposite because this will make your cramp worse. Another good idea while in the middle of the race is not thinking “Oh, I have X amount of miles left.” Instead it is better to keep your mind present. Look at the environment or sing a song to yourself. In a way this is like meditation. Being in the moment and paying attention to the road. Just be aware and not reactive. Post-Ritual: You need to replenish your calories after you run but you do not want to make yourself sick. Remembering your average stomach is about the size of your fist so if you eat more than that it is a waste. Plus it matters what is in that fist size meal. You want something full of nutrients. A plate of cookies does not equal a plate of chicken and veggies. Again Leicht shares, “Forty-eight hours after a particularly strenuous run or race, focus on complex carbohydrates for rebuilding glycogen stores.” It is unbelievable this was my 4th race considering I was never supposed to walk again. Like I always say He gives me strength. I am now doing what was considered impossible. It was nice to be in a place that was not the same everywhere you look. Meaning I was able to see the town and scenery around me, not just a boring track. And once again it was momentous because it was the mission I used to take photos at, for my business.
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