Every season I have races that are high priority races with a few lower priority races. As an athlete, I go into every race with a race plan ready to give it my all. Sometimes I might go into a lower priority race a little tired but that doesn't mean I can't have good results. Lower priority races are a great place to gain race experience, practice race strategies or use as a tune up for a higher priority race. For example, this weekend I am doing a 1/2 marathon road race in Jackson (a tune up race). It will be a speed workout with some intensity. The following weekend is a high priority race with a gravel road section at the end of the race. I hope to draw from my 1/2 experience during these final miles. Higher priority races are a time when all my training and racing experience come together. I would love Eric to chime in on a coaches perspective to different races. Good luck to everybody and happy racing!!
Comments
Good luck Margot, run free!
Lower priority racing is a great time to pick some fun, shorter races to get in some sustained intensity that is hard to do on your own. Especially good for those doing ultras, where you can lack some leg speed from all of the long training runs.
Lower priority races are also a great time to practice what is feels like to be relaxed before a race. This is usually the case with races that do not mean much and this relaxed feeling really helps to have a good race that can then be replicated for more important races when your expectations are higher.
A fast runner is a relaxed runner!