Property Sports Network organise networking events with a sporting theme based in the property sector.
Thanks to their expertise and experience, we thought they’d be fantastic people to give you their top 10 tips to help you prepare for the LandAid 10K – read them below.
1. Be clear on your own objectives.
Everyone will be there for different reasons. You must know what yours are in order to prepare in the right way. The number one objective is to have fun – the second could be to run the distance for the first time, to share the experience with a friend, get a personal best or race for the win. Don’t forget this when you turn up on the day. Have fun and run your own race with this objective in mind.
2. Put your trainers on
The hardest part about training is getting out of the front door. Make it easier by just focusing on first getting your trainers and kit on. Walk around the house in your kit and do a few other things, like the washing up. Leaving the house then doesn’t feel like such a burden.
3. Run by time, not distance
When preparing for a race, you can build up your training by time rather than distance. For example, rather than going out and running 4k in the evening, aim to go out and run for 30 minutes. This takes the unnecessary pressure off from doing a specific distance which, depending on how you feel or your route, could significantly change your time. Don’t be afraid to add a bit of walking if you need to.
4. Slowly add distance by time.
If you are happy running and walking for 30 minutes, then next week add another 5 to 10 minutes. Keep slowly building up the time like this week by week, adding what you feel comfortable with, and the mileage will follow.
5. Consistency is king.
Getting out for a regular run is better than getting out once a week for a big one. Your body needs time to repair and rebuild after the stress of a run. Frequent small stresses, for instance around three runs a week, will prepare you much better than one big run – you’ll also be less sore.
6. It helps to have done the distance
There’s no avoiding the fact that it helps to have done the distance you’re ultimately planning to run while in training. However, if this is your first time trying and you’ve built up your training time and distance slowly, then don’t stress about that too much. Aim to have done at least 80% of the distance in training.
7. Don’t forget your core.
Running is a whole body activity and both your technique and performance will benefit from a bit of core work . Check out these examples for runners.
8. Don’t start too fast
Don’t get too carried away at the start. Everyone will tend to run off too quickly and slow down later. Set off at a speed you can maintain for the whole distance.
9. Have fun
Training and racing should be fun (as much as possible). Mix up your training to make it a bit more fun by finding a new location, running off road or making it sociable by running with a friend or colleague.
10. Sign up for a LandAid training run.
With that fun in mind, a great way to get some training in, and meet new people, is to join one of our training runs. To get involved in the next training run on Wednesday 15th May, sign up for the LandAid 10K to find out more. If you’re already signed up, drop the events team an email for more info.