Great! That's brilliant news! You feel you have been running long enough, and are confident enough to enter your first race! All that remains is to pick one... hmmm.... The London Marathon???? The Great North Run????? The Manchester 10K?????
Sure these races are great events, and well worth doing, but PLEASE read the following advice to not only get you through race number 1, but will get you to actually ENJOY it as well!
1. Start Small In all likelihood you will be a relative newcomer to running. Ideally you would like to attempt a distance in which you feel confident, say a 5K? If anything, for your first few races, you should run 'within' yourself until you get used to the difference between racing and training. Beware of biting off more than you can chew, which many runners have done, running off licking their wounds in the process!
2. Consider a Local Race Every runner loves to do the major events from time to time. Yes the actual run will be great fun. STOP for a minute though. Let's say you choose the London Marathon as your first race. Have you considered the travelling costs? The Hotel costs? The hassle of getting to the start line on time? Picking up your race pack the day before? Maybe instead you should choose a local race as your first- even just to check that you like racing! The parking is usually free, the race cost is negligible (compared to the astronomical prices charged by the major events!), the atmosphere a lot more relaxed, and all abilities are present. Go to UK Results to find a local race.
3. Race With A Friend If you are a member of a running club, and your first race happens to be one on the club's calendar then in all probability some of the club's runners will be competing. Attending your first race with familiar faces is alot easier and less daunting than facing it alone. Plus, your new running friends will nurse you through your first race! Alternatively, if you are not in a running club, then you must know someone who runs... convince them to race as well!
4). Support Local Running Clubs All of the local races are organised by a local clubs. They put the races on for fun and to provide funds for the club to reinvest within themselves. If you enter a local race, you will be helping local runners.
5). Enjoy It! What's the point in running if you aren't going to have fun?! Of course try your best, but don't get hung up on times and pace until you are a little bit more familiar with your abilities and understand how racing works. When you cross the finish line you will get such a sense of satisfaction that you will be desperate to do the next one!
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