Lace Up, Gear Up & Buddy Up

Lace Up, Gear Up & Buddy Up
by Timothy Lyman, Director of Training Programs at Fleet Feet Pittsburgh

You’ve registered, gotten your confirmation email and are pumped for the race! Now what? There is a lot that needs to happen over the span of a few short months, and it might feel very overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin. I’m here to help you put a plan in place that will not only prepare you for your event, but also ensure that you also enjoy yourself along the way. I’m here to help you create sustainable practices that will stick around in the long run, and create an amazing training and racing experience.

There are three things you’ll want to do right away. Lace up, gear up and buddy up. Pretty self-explanatory, right?

• Lace Up. Getting yourself a good pair of shoes is the best up-front investment you can make. If this is your first 5K or your 100th marathon, high-quality, custom-fit footwear will go a long way. With weeks and weeks of training ahead of you, those beat up tennis shoes you scored from a discount rack two years ago just aren’t going to cut it. Here's where Fleet Feet has you covered. We’ll do a visual inspection, a gait analysis and scan your foot using fit id 3D technology. The reps will also talk to you about your training and racing goals, in order to get you into the perfect pair of kicks.
• Gear Up. No matter the temperature, you should be carrying water on your training runs. Nathan products do a great job of keeping you hydrated while seamlessly integrating onto your body. Trust me, it's not going to feel like you’ve strapped a water cooler to your back. Moisture-wicking apparel is essential at any time of year, and if you only get a chance to run when it’s dark outside you'll also need to pick up some safety lights and reflective equipment.
• Buddy Up. Last but not not least, find a buddy or two. Or five. Or fifty. We are social creatures who have survived so far by grouping into tribes. To create lasting, sustainable fitness practices you’ll find much greater success by being in a group. There are plenty of incredible running groups around Pittsburgh, like the Fleet Feet Running Club, that offer plans, programs and mentorship for runners of all ability levels.

There’s your homework. Getting a head start on the basics will put you in a good place for a successful training season, and ensure a fun, positive experience. It’s like finding the corner pieces of a jigsaw puzzle first, the rest gets easier from there!