Training through Summertime
Lacing up your San Diego trail running shoes can be difficult when the temperatures are soaring, especially during an unusually humid summer like this one. But training during the summertime can pay off when the temps cool down. Read our tips for successful training while it’s still summertime:
- Hydrate! Make sure to hydrate throughout the day—not just after your run—and consider stashing water bottles along your running route for easy hydration on the go.
- Slow down. Your pace is going to be slower when running in the heat, so don’t fight it.
- Listen to your body. If your run is more than unpleasant, don’t hesitate to stop and try again the next day. If you’re not feeling it, you’re not feeling it.
- Repeat your mantra. Runner and author Haruki Murakami’s “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.”
- If you are prone to headaches (which are more common in the heat), running can help by releasing endorphins and easing inflammation.
- Visualize race day. If you picture your runs as steps toward your running goal it will be easier to get through them.
- Running in the heat will get easier. After training in the heat San Diego trail running events in cooler weather will be a breeze!
Are You Suffering from Post-Marathon Syndrome?
Congrats! You just completed a marathon! Whether it was your first or your third (and you managed to cut 10 minutes off your time!), you might be experiencing PMS now that the race is over with. The PMS I’m talking about isn’t what you’re thinking of though, it’s Post-Marathon Syndrome.
You know that feeling of letdown you experience after the race? That’s Post-Marathon Syndrome, and it’s normal. You’ve been structuring your life around reaching the finish line and the feeling of jubilation you feel when you cross the finish line is replaced by a sense of letdown that it is over. So what can you do to combat PMS? Acknowledging your feelings is the first step, but while acknowledging your feelings make sure to celebrate your accomplishment!
Make sure to take time out to recover. Other areas of your life might have been placed on the backburner to make room for your hectic marathon training schedule, so enjoy those activities. You can still make plans to run an upcoming race, but avoid mindlessly signing yourself up for every trail running event in San Diego immediately after running a marathon.
As a runner, you’re likely a goal-oriented person. So use your down time to think about what your next goal will be. Maybe it’s to join a running group, shave 15 minutes off your marathon time, or volunteer at a marathon. If you have a hard time thinking of a goal or it doesn’t just come to you, make sure you aren’t on the brink of a burnout. If you think you might be, consider tackling an event that is outside of your comfort zone. If you’re a road runner, pick up some trail runners shoes and sign up for the next trail running event!
