Sleaford Striders Athletics Club

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TIPS

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General

Leave your watch at home and vary your route for more enjoyment.

Find a running partner or run in groups. Vary your distance/speed of training runs. Include some hills, this is hard work but it pays dividends.

Don't increase weekly mileage by more than 10%.

Weight training, cross training, swimming and cycling will improve your running.

During longer runs start off slow and 'let the run come to you'. This is what the Kenyans do!

Use energy gels on runs over 1 hour (try them out before racing-they may not agree with you).

Apply tape to nipples to avoid soreness. Clive swears by vaseline instead.

Be safe at night keep to well lit roads, wear reflective clothing and buy a potholers lamp for those dark roads (around £15) vehicles soon see you with one of these on.

To prevent shoe laces undoing themselves-Tie them in a bow as normal then tuck both loops and both ends under the existing laces.When hot, apply vaseline to the eyebrows to avoid sweat going into the eyes.

When sunny, apply sunscreen and wear a cap (the peak can be turned around to protect the neck when the sun is behind).

Wear cycling style lycra shorts to avoid chafing. Also wear garments inside out to keep seams away from the skin.

Racing

When trying to catch up with the runner in front-Imagine there is a bungee rope pulling you in towards them.

To keep warm before racing on cold days wear one of those painter's overalls, the paper type. These will keep you warm and can be discarded quickly.

Be prepared for race day and make a checklist of all the things needed on the day eg: Club vest, spare vest, spare socks, spare shorts, spare jacket, painters suit, bananas, drinks, gels, money, painkillers, mobile phone, keys, nipple tape, toilet paper, Championchip, lip balm, sunscreen, hat, gloves, vaseline .

Try and go to the toilet as late as possible before the start to prevent doing a 'Paula Ratcliffe'.

On bendy roads try and follow the straightest line. This will save wasted effort, especialy over the marathon distance.

At drinks stations don't always go to the first person, find a later one it will be less crowded. When drinks stations are on both sides of the road use the one on the left as most people are right handed and use that side. If the drink is in a plastic cup take a mouthful then squeeze the cup, this way you will be able to run and drink at the same time.

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