Runners are some of the most inclusive groups of people on the planet. Running is one of the few things in life that seems to bring people from all walks together. Whether it is in the pursuit of increased fitness, doing something healthy for yourself, or the common goal of crossing the finish line, runners are very supportive and welcoming of one another.
If you’re thinking about becoming a runner, but are worried you won’t fit in. Don’t be!! All runners had to start somewhere, just like you are.
If you’re taking that thinking a step further and considering running a runDisney event…DO IT!!!
RunDisney Runners are the Best
Add the word ‘runDisney’ in front of runners (making it ‘RunDisney Runners’ :)) and you might have an even more welcoming group of people. If that was even possible!
If you’ve completed a runDisney event you know exactly what I mean. Join in on any RunDisney event and you’ll find people from all over the country, all over the world even, that will welcome you with open arms. As you travel across the parks together you’ll realize you’ve met some of your new best ‘running’ friends. You’ll be so glad you made the decision to join in on the fun.
Running Needs to Be Respected
Despite the welcoming nature of runners and runDisney runners, it has to be said that running itself is a beast and demands respect. Running can make you feel both amazing and completely depleted at the exact same time. You can feel on top of the world because your body just did something awesome, while also feeling as though you need to take a ten-hour nap in order to get in enough recovery.
But here’s the thing: You don’t have to feel completely exhausted every time you go for a run or come back from a run. Especially if you have a runDisney run lined up in the future. How do you say?
By training for your race of course ;).
Before You Start Your RunDisney Training
Before you even think about toeing the start line, you need to be aware that running is a serious activity. It is an activity that needs to be approached with joy, but also caution. As hinted above, the stress and the amount of physical demand that you put on your body during training and a race are not something to take lightly.
As a matter of fact, before you think of doing any race, whether it be a runDisney event or another race, you need to do a little pre-training work. You want to, to the best of your ability, make it to the start line healthy and get to the finish line healthy as well.
Play it smart and go through the following checklist to make sure you can reach your dreams of fully participating in a RunDisney event!
***The following advice is just that, advice. Be sure to consult your own medical healthcare provider if you have additional questions on any of the below-listed topics and/or before starting any exercise program.
Before You Start Your RunDisney Training Get a Physical
If you have never run or have taken some time off from intense physical activity, you need to head to the doctor before you start. Your general primary care physician will do the trick, but if you have ‘access’ to someone who specializes in sports medicine, head there.
Bonus if you have a doctor that runs! They are going to know what concerns you might have and will possibly know how to address them on a more personal level.
After you’ve called your doctor, go in for the physical and find out if it is safe for you to start running. Have your blood levels checked and have the doctor take a peek at your ‘heart’, among other things. You want to make sure everything is in tip-top shape before you start your journey.
If things don’t look the best, ask your doctor for advice. Learn what you can do to start running. This will help to prevent any surprises down the road!
Give Yourself Time for Your RunDisney Training
Half marathons require at least three months of training, or a sold 10-12 weeks, for the experienced runner. You need to give yourself time to train.
If you’ve never run before, starting your training for a half marathon the month before the race is not a smart plan. You won’t have enough time to get your training in and will probably stress yourself out. Mostly likely, more time is needed to get you to the start line safely. While you might be able to complete the distance with just four weeks of training, you could possibly hurt yourself (or worse, end up hating running!!). Instead, take it slow and gradually build up your training runs.
The same thing goes for the 5k and the 10k. Don’t rush into them or enter them unprepared. Be sure to give yourself at least a month to train before the 5k and two months before the 10k. All this advice is given with the thought that you have some sort of base of physical activity, preferably running or at least walking. If you don’t have a running base, be sure to give yourself even more time.
Take Your RunDisney Training Seriously
Now that you’ve committed to giving yourself enough time to complete your training, you want to be sure to take your training seriously.
Yes, you will have days when you are too sick to complete your training. There will probably also be days where life just seems to get in the way and training has to take the back burner. And some days you just don’t even want to think about running and skip a workout.
This is okay.
Life, sickness, and a momentary dislike of running happen. Just don’t make this the norm, skipping lots of days of your training plan. Instead, do your best to make it part of your routine and habit. Carve out a certain part of the day, each and every day, that you plan to complete your training. Just like going to work, taking care of your children, or anything else you might commit to doing on a daily basis, be sure to get your training done. Consistency is key to making progress.
If you take your training seriously and stay consistent, you are going to see the rewards tenfold. Not only are you going to improve your overall fitness level, but you are also going to push yourself closer and closer to reaching your running goals. Consistency is one of the biggest factors in helping you to arrive at the starting line safely. Do the work and you will reap the rewards.
Eat Healthily During Your RunDisney Training
You might have heard the saying before, ‘If the fire is hot enough, it will burn anything.’ Once you start getting into higher mileage training, this can be true. You’re going to be burning so many calories you might be able to eat just about anything.
And then eat all the snacks once you’re at Disney! At least that’s always my plan.
Conclusion for The Best RunDisney Training Advice
There ya go! The best runDisney training advice to help you get to your RunDisney starting line in one piece. Have questions? Leave a comment below!!
RunDisney events are a ton of fun, but aside from training properly, it’s best to be aware of all the ins-and-outs of your event. Check out this post here to find out more details about the RunDisney Start Corrals, the RunDisney Finish Line and the RunDisney Expo.
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