Tag Archive for: half marathon training

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5 Self-Care Tips to Help Runners Maximize Their Training

Get the most out of your upcoming training schedule with these self-care tips

A key to crossing the 2021 3M Half Marathon finish line and securing a new half marathon PR is to maximize your training. Whether you’re preparing for an upcoming long run or recovering from a speedy track workout, these 5 self-care tips will help you get the most out of your training! BONUS – we did some shopping for you and found some great deals on some of our favorite items.

5 self-care tips

Pay attention to your surroundings

We get it, we love listening to music during our runs and workouts too! That’s why we’ve built this massive #WeLiketheSoundofThat playlist. But it’s imperative that runners pay attention to their surroundings. We like the Titanium Open Ear Headphones from AfterShokz because they allow for the best of both worlds. They allow you to jam out and hear what’s going on around you!

Wear headgear and sunglasses

Running with a hat and sunglasses can make all the difference. Hats can keep sweat out of your eyes and help your head stay cool. Sunglasses can help you see better by reducing that random glare and protecting your eyes from dust and other debris. We like Under Armour’s Launch Run Cap because of its breathability, keeping your head cool. Check out the Zone Sunglasses from Under Armour. They’re lightweight, wrap comfortably around your head, and have polarized lenses.

Image of female running listening to Aftershokz headphones while running. She can listen to music and her surroundings, an important self-care tip in this 3M Half Marathon blog.

Shorten your stride when running downhill

The downhill portion of your run is coming up and you’re ready to fly! But wait… don’t pick up so much speed that you lose control. You also don’t want to put unnecessary strain on your quads with the extra pounding. Shorten your stride and keep your feet underneath you. You’ll still pick up speed, but you’ll be in more control and will save your legs for the rest of your run. Pro tip: read more downhill running tips.

Hydrate

We know what you’re thinking, you hear this all the time. But it’s absolutely vital. Proper hydration provides energy for your muscles, helps you fuel better, and aids in recovery. Consuming 60-80 ounces daily is recommended. You should drink more if you’re more active. Don’t forget to include an electrolyte-enhanced drink. Water alone does not fully hydrate you! Check out Nuun and their rainbow of flavors. You simply pop a tab or two in your water and voila, you have electrolytes!

Foam roll

High mileage can take its toll on your body. You’re asking a lot from your muscles. Make sure you take proper care of them by foam rolling every day, even if it’s for a few minutes before bed. Setting aside a dedicated daily foam rolling session increases the chances that you follow through. Foam rolling can decrease injury risk and your recovery time, getting you ready for the next run. Set an appointment with Fleet Feet Austin today and check out all the different recovery options they have available.

Training has begun. Now it’s time to maximize your efforts so you can stay healthy. These self-care tips can protect you from the elements, speed up your recovery, and reduce your chances of injury. Is there a specific self-care tip that you use to maximize your training and prevent injury? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

What High Five Events Staff Would Listen to Forever

If they had to choose, here’s what the staff at High Five Events would listen to forever

Imagine you can listen to one thing through your speakers/headphones from now on. What would you choose? It could be podcasts, audiobooks, music, or whatever else the kids are listening to these days. The staff at High Five Events break down what they would listen to forever. Music seems to be the main choice, but there are some good podcasts listed as well as an audiobook series. They just might come in handy if you’re training for 3M Half Marathon!

William

Image of Alabama Shakes' album Sound & Color on clear vinyl. This is one of three albums William Dyson would listen to forever.Give me these three albums on vinyl on rotation!

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon
ZZ Top – Tres Hombres
Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color

Laura

I’d listen to the following podcasts:

Bobby Bones Show
4 Things With Amy Brown
Work, Play, Love

Emily

The following music makes my top three.

Danny Malone – We the Tigress, They the Wildebeast
Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova – Once
Les Miserables

Stacy

This is pretty much an impossible question for me since I love so many albums. Because of that I will select the album I could listen to forever from the last full year of music creation (2019).

The National – I am Easy to Find

Scott

I’m jamming to the following three albums and sneaking in these three podcasts…

Albums
311 – The Blue Album
Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
Podcasts
Joe Rogan Experience
The Pat McAfee Show
2 Bears, 1 Cave

John

Depends on what mood I’m in. I start off with 1 or 2 and let Spotify recommendations take over.

Thievery Corporation
Jazz – Miles Davis, earlier stuff, before the 80s

Joey

When I’m coding I like to listen to bubble gum pop because it helps me get into a flow and doesn’t require much thought. My next two are kind of cheats because I want a variety of artists so I picked out soundtracks.

Ting Tings – We Started Nothing
Pretty in Pink soundtrack (chosen because there was no official soundtrack released for Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)
Lost Body soundtrack

Dan

These three albums are all I’d listen to.

Tom Petty – Wildflowers
U2 – Josua Tree
Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

Jack

Just give me these two albums and I’m set.

Metallica – The Black Album
Michael Jackson – Thriller

Megan

As you can see these are very random lol. 1 and 2 are rather chill, but when I need to feel extra I must bring out the Houston Diva!

All The Band Camino Songs
Ben Rector
This is Beyonce Spotify Station

Tina

I’m pretty sure these two items would have me covered forever!

My personal “All the Jams” playlist on Spotify
Harry Potter audiobooks read by Stephen Fry

Caroline

Click play on these three albums and I’m good to go!

Frank Ocean – Channel Orange
Queen – Greatest Hits
Sublime – Sublime

If you had to choose one thing to listen to from now on what would you choose? And what would make your top three? Let us know what you would listen to forever on Facebook or Twitter.

Make it to Your Morning Run with these 6 Tips

Get out the door for your morning run with this helpful advice

You hear that? That’s your alarm clock going off earlier than normal. Your schedule calls for an early morning run. Now the internal battle begins because your bed is so comfortable and you were really enjoying sleep. Every runner battles themselves in some way every morning. Use one or all six of these tips to make your morning run!

Runner gives two thumbs up during 2019 3M Half Marathon while listening to music. Runners can make their own playlist to help them get up in the morning for their morning run.

Make a playlist that you’ll give two thumbs up!

Create a playlist you love

If you listen to music, knowing you’ll jam during your morning run will help you get up. Set the playlist to coincide with the duration of your run or make a list and put it on shuffle. Singing along will help get you going and make the miles fly by. Need some song recommendations? Follow us on Twitter and check out our #WeLiketheSoundofThat campaign. We’re compiling the songs on this Spotify playlist!

Sleep in your running clothes

Simplify your morning routine and sleep in your running clothes. Take this a step further and put your running shoes and socks by the door. Pack everything you’ll need for the day if you don’t plan to come home after your run. Pro tip: before you get in bed make sure the clothes are clean and weren’t previously used on a run!

Go to bed early

Getting more sleep is a great way to wake up refreshed and ready for your morning run. It also helps get you in a daily rhythm. Wake up early, complete your run, have a great day, go to bed early, repeat. If you have trouble going to sleep try eating dinner earlier, watch your favorite show before you lay down, or read a book in bed. Try to avoid looking at any screens an hour before bed. 

Put your alarm out of reach

Place your alarm somewhere where you have to get out of bed to turn it off. This tactic gets your body moving and reduces the chances that you hit the snooze button. Put it next to your toothbrush, in the kitchen, or in your running shoes. Just make sure the alarm is set and the volume is loud enough to hear in the bedroom. Pro tip: if you use your phone, set your favorite song to go off when it’s time to get up.

Simplify your run

If you’ve just started running, start small and work your way up. Longer runs can seem daunting at first, increasing the chances you stay in bed. If you’ve just started running, alternate running and walking. Eventually, you’ll eliminate walking. You can also start out by running 15 minutes and increase your time on subsequent runs. Plan your route, know it, and make sure someone else knows the route. This increases your safety and provides benchmarks so you know how much running remains.

Reward yourself

Quite possibly our favorite tip for getting up early for a run! Your reward can be as simple as indulging on your favorite snack or as grand as a massage at the end of the month. Eventually, you’ll need to make the rewards more difficult to achieve. This will help you progress in your training and keep you from spending so much money.

Completing an early morning run gets your day started and knocks one more thing off your to-do list. Use one or all of our tips to jumpstart your morning. Is there a trick you use that we didn’t mention? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!