The height of the Covid-19 pandemic affected our regular day to day life in ways we never imagined. Especially in the running community. Runners who enjoyed competing at local or destination events saw their races either cancelled or changed to a virtual run.

It hasn’t been until recently where in person races have started to pop back up with less and less restrictions. So, it’s now 2022 and you want to go back to running races again in person. What do you do now?

This blog post is geared towards helping you take your 2022 running goals to new heights by thinking about important questions you need to answer when it comes to planning your event schedule.

Ask Yourself These Initial Questions

Below are questions you should consider asking yourself when planning out your race event schedule for the year:

  • How many races do you want to run this year?
  • Where do you want to race this year? Local? Out of state? Out of country? A combination of all?
  • Which race events do you want to run? What is the level of difficulty? There is a difference in terms of difficulty between the Miami Marathon and the Boston. How many people typical running each race? 200? 5,000 or 20,000?
  • What is the cost of each race including any travel expense? Do you have the savings, or will you be able to save the money needed for the expenses you’ll incur to race?
  • How much time can you commit to on a weekly basis assuming that you’ll be increasing you’re your mileage by 10% weekly?
  • Have you experienced any life changing events or expect to have any this year? If your answer is yes, how can you ensure that you stay disciplined to your training and race schedule?
  • What are your running goals for finishing the races you want to run this year? Is it just to finish each of the races without worrying about time? Is it finishing at least one race with a PR this year? Is it to drop the 10 to 15 pounds you’ve wanted to drop this year? Build memories with family and friends? Network more with other runners? Running an ultra-marathon?

After Initial Questions Are Answered Then Ask Yourself These Questions

  • What fitness level are you starting at? Are you already running regularly? Or are you not a runner and looking to get into the sport? You’ll need to build a base if you aren’t already a runner. VO2Max levels are important. What are your current levels? And what do you need to bring them to in order to achieve your goal race time.
  • How will you train? Will you train alone? Or will you join a running group? Are you going to add in elements of training that you have never done before?
  • What is the amount of recovery time you’ll need in between races? Before starting up training again your body will need time to heal itself. Everyone’s body is different and requires different amounts of recovery time.
  • Do you have the appropriate apparel for training & race day? Quality apparel is important to prevent injuries and to be able to handle changing weather conditions. Research on quality brands especially shoes is extremely important.
  • Should I add weight training to my weekly training schedule? There are many benefits of strengthen training that can take your running performance to the next level. Consider this question and take action.
  • Do I keep a running journal to document each of your training sessions and write down how many hours slept, what you’ve eaten and how you’ve felt after each workout? What benefit would I gain from keeping a running journal?
  • How many rest days will you incorporate in your weekly training schedule? One day or two days? Everyone’s body is different and requires didn’t levels of rest. Light cross training can be considered a rest day. Remember that!
  • Are there any supplements you should take that will help you achieve your running goals? Protein powders? Recovery shakes? Vitamins?
  • Should you incorporate massage therapy weekly, semi-weekly or monthly?
  • What is your hydration plan during training and on race day? Will you carry water or hydrating beverage with you on run or will you put bottles throughout your training route? Or will you use the aid stations on race day? Having a plan especially during longer races is extremely important.

What Resources to Use

  • What resources should I use to help keep myself motivated, and for education on running? YouTube, Books, Magazines, Podcasts, Blogs or a combination of resources?
  • Will you join Running Social Media Groups for advice and to help inspire you to achieve your goals?
  • Do I keep a running journal to document each of your training sessions and write down how many hours slept, what you’ve eaten and how you’ve felt after each workout? What benefit would I gain from keeping a running journal?
  • Running Coach or no Running Coach? If looking to set a new PR is it worth hiring a running coach to help give you the tools necessary to achieve your goal? Or are you an experienced running that just needs to change up training routine or the intensity of training?
  • Which runners should I interview to gain knowledge of running and what they have used done to achieve their running goals?

Plan For Success

Ultimately there are so many aspects of running that one needs to take into consideration when they are planning their race schedule for the year. Not all of them are listed above but we wanted to provide you with a starting point to get you thinking. Having a game plan will help you get on a good path to achieving your 2022 running goals.

A recent Harvard Case Study found that people who set goals are 10 times more likely to achieve their goals than those who don’t set goals. Goal setting helps create new behaviors, helps you remain focused and builds momentum that you can build off of.

So get out that 2022 calendar and start planning out your race event schedule today. Once you have answered many of the questions above, then start registering for each race which includes paying the race fee. After registering go to your calendar and start writing down the races on the dates when the races will be held. Set reminders on your phone and or calendar. Plan your training routine and then go to work! You’ll have to adjust as you go and how you feel but the hardest part of your training will be planning it all.

 

2022 is the year to #RunInspired TRC Family! We want each and every one of you to not only achieve your goals but to live a life that inspires a nation. What are you waiting for? Go out and achieve your impossible Today!

TRC Feedback Comments Wanted

TRC Family if there are any other questions that you feel are important to ask yourself when planning your race schedule for the year, please feel free to contribute by adding your comments below. We’d love to hear from you!

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