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Is running a road race one of your 2019 resolutions? Many people hit the road January 1 with the intention of making running part of their routine, but that soon fizzles out and by February their goal is forgotten. Here are three tips to help you check your ‘run a road race’ resolution off of your list in 2019.
Tip #1 Sign up for a race right now
Stop reading and sign up for a local road race no later than March of this year. There are great races in February and March (bonus fun runs on St. Patrick’s Day) – and signing up and putting a little skin in the game is the first step to accomplishing your road race goal.
Tip #2 Start off on the right foot
Has it been more than a year since you dusted off your running shoes or replaced them? Time to trade in your foot tires for a new pair. This is an important step as 80% of running injuries come from improper footwear. Make sure you have a shoe that fits to make sure you are able to make it to race day injury free.
I have been wearing Allbirds running shoes for years - they are a great fit for my narrow foot and neutral gait. But I highly recommend checking out your local running store and getting them to help you find the perfect shoe for you.
Tip #3 Pick a training plan and schedule your run days
Running doesn’t have to take up all of your time. In fact, my beginner 5K and 10K Ready to Run plans only require 15 days of running total! Regardless of if you use my plan or not, pick a plan and schedule your running dates with yourself now. This will set you up for greater likelihood to stick to your goal.
Bonus tip: Tell your friends and family about your goal, and even better, get one of them to sign up for the race with you! By putting your goal in writing and talking about it out loud to people you will build in some healthy social pressure to avoid skipping snooze race day morning and get your road race goal complete!
