Cardiff Half Marathon

TRAINING TIPS FROM #TEAMBRECONCARREG

It’s only two months until the Cardiff Half Marathon, but don’t fret if your training has been a bit lax.

Brecon Carreg Mineral Water has put together a team of runners of all ages and abilities, here, they share their help and advice to get you race ready on the big day.

World Half Marathon Team BC

DON’T FOCUS ON THE TIME

Unless you’re running competitively, your goal should be to finish and to enjoy yourself. Menna says: “A mile is a mile however long it takes to run. Just try to enjoy the experience; sometimes we forget that we run for pleasure.”

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Laura uses an app to track her progress: “Strava did it for me, because it was tracking my runs I had a record of when I’d gone a bit further or faster and that would spur me on.”

RUN WITH PEOPLE

Company when running can motivate you, and chatting will distract you from the distance or the time. Menna says: “The best thing I did was join a running club. Running with a friend definitely gives you the motivation to get up and out – if you arrange to meet, you can’t pull out or you’re letting them down as well as yourself.”

FIND YOUR OPTIMUM TIME TO TRAIN

The best time to run varies from person to person, depending on their daily schedule but chances are the later you leave it, the more reluctant you’ll be to head out. Mike says: “Mornings are best for me because it’s done and dusted and I can feel smug all day.”

SET A DISTANCE RELATED TARGET

While people can get wrapped up in timings, our team recommend setting a distance and focus on reaching it. John said: “I suggest 5km or three miles for a beginner, start with a one mile run, four days a week. Build up the distance before you run faster.”

KEEP HYDRATED

It’s not enough to drink throughout the race; if you haven’t drunk enough in the lead up to the race, your performance will suffer. Clair says: “Drink plenty of water for the whole week leading up to the race. I also try not to drink too much tea and coffee, and make sure I take a drink with me the morning of race day. Without proper hydration you can feel tired and sluggish so drinking plenty, especially during warmer weather, is essential.

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