Striders #1 (mini-sode) - Coach V on 26.2

Coach Violet is here to pump you up for marathon day with her valuable insights, experience, and positive spirit in this bonus mini-episode .

Episode Transcript

Coach Violet (00:07):
Hi, this is Coach Violet and I am from the South
Loop.
I've been running for 13 yearsand have completed just under 35
marathons, some of which areultra distance.
My first race was in 2009.
I ran Chicago in six hours andthree minutes, and my personal

(00:29):
best is in Berlin, where I ranthree hours in 28 minutes in
2019.
I love that I can say I've runevery pace in between.
It's been fun and I've also runBoston, which is as magical as
they say.
So I just wanted to share sometips and tricks for you as you

(00:51):
are preparing for your marathon.
It's not like cramming for atest.
You can't try to hydrate or carbload the night before the race
or test your fitness by runningyour shake out too hard.
Just like with your trainingcycle, everything requires a
gradual buildup.
So start increasing yourhydration and carb intake a few

(01:13):
nights before start going to bedearlier, at least the week
before.
It's a good idea to try to bankyour sleep.
Don't try to bank your time onrace day.
You know, if you start out toofast, chances are you might bonk
towards the end, and that's notthe race experience you wanna

(01:34):
have.
So a good race strategy is tostart out with a pace group for
your desired time.
And if you're still feelinggood, you can start to pull
away.
You know, some people start topull away at the half marathon
mark.
It just really depends how youfeel.
But I mean, mile 22, you feelgood, push to the finish.

(01:56):
You know, if you run the racesmart, you're going to feel like
you have energy towards the end.
I also like to do a lot ofvisualization the week of the
race.
I focus on when I have felt mystrongest and something that can
be like a great race or how Ifelt in some of my stronger

(02:18):
training runs.
I had a good set of eighthundreds or just any time you
felt good, remember thesemoments and then think of them
during the race when thingsstart to get rough.
It's not an easy thing to do torun a marathon.
You know, you're gonna gettired.
You're gonna feel like you wannastop, You're going to go through

(02:40):
all of these emotions, but don'tlet how you feel at a certain
mile affect your race becauseeverything can change.
You might feel super crappy atmile three, but that doesn't
mean that's how you're gonnafeel at mile thirteen.
Your body goes through so much.
So just call on good racememories and use that to push

(03:01):
you through to the next mile.
Also don't let what's happeningaround you impact you.
And I'm thinking about Chicago,just past Chinatown, there's a
via duct you run under andyou're gonna hear the zombie
shuffle echoing loudly.
People are tired by this pointand they start to drag their

(03:21):
feet and you just hear thatincessant shuffle and your body
is going to wanna react and dothe same.
This is the time to get loud,sing, focus on light steps.
You know, just have fun.
Get yourself out of that areaand keep going.
You're almost done and you knowyou're gonna get to Mount

(03:44):
Roosevelt and that's it.
You're gonna see the finishline.
So just think about how hard youwork to get here.
Enjoy it and like Kipchoge,smile through the rough.
Your body will naturally respondby relaxing, and just don't
stress about what you can'tcontrol.

(04:05):
Focus on what you can and justbelieve in your ability.
You've done the work.
Now it's just time to reap therewards and have a good race.
And even if you haven't had thebest training cycle, it's the
whole picture.
You've had a series of runs,good, bad, ugly.

(04:28):
You know, that's what's preparedyou for this moment.
So focus on that.
Set your A goal, B goal, C goal,and just show up on race day,
ready to cross that finish linewith a smile, and then
celebrate.
Feel the victory, and know thatyou can do it, and I will be

(04:49):
there cheering you on.
Good luck and have fun.