Tune-Up Race
Nailing the Tune-Up Race
With Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh
Disclaimer: I received free entry to the Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Half Marathon as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
In just a few weeks I'll be headed down to North Carolina to run in the Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh Half Marathon on April 8, and just a couple of weeks after that, I'll be running my first marathon EVER! Running the two races so close together may not be ideal, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a new RnR City to my collection.
I'll be using Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh as a "tune-up" race, an opportunity to simulate the marathon race day but at a shorter more comfortable distance. I certainly won't be running for time but using the race as an opportunity to test out my preparedness for the marathon just a few weeks later. Hopefully, this will give me some insight into small changes I may make in my plan for the marathon itself.
Why Run a Tune-Up Race?
As I mentioned, when preparing for a goal race, running a slightly shorter "tune-up" race allows runners to simulate race-day conditions as a sort of practice run for their eventual goal race. Starting with preparing for the race itself, the tune-up race allows you to run through the motions of your race-day routine including your pre-race breakfast and nutrition plan. This gives you a chance to identify any possible holes in your plan and strengthen it before your next race.
Sure you may be able to practice some of these things during the normal long runs that are built into your training plan, but what you can't simulate in training is the feeling of the race itself. Anyone who has run a race before will be familiar with the pre-race jitters and nerves that you get when you arrive at the starting line surrounded by people. Running through a tune-up race can help you get into your zone and find your happy place so that you're in a stronger place mentally when you get to your goal race.
The tune-up race will also allow you the opportunity to gauge your fitness and test yourself with actual race performance. In my case, I've been training for my marathon for 14 weeks and I'm itching to see what kind of impact that training has had. Although I won't be pushing myself too hard in Raleigh, it's going to be a great opportunity to see how my legs handle their first half-marathon of 2018.
There's also a mental boost that comes after a successful race effort and running a comfortable tune-up race can help strengthen your confidence as you approach your goal race. This is a double-edged sword however because a less than stellar performance in your tune-up race can also have the opposite effect. It's important when selecting a tune-up race to find one that is comfortable for you to limit any potential setback.
How to Run a Tune-Up Race?
When I say that a tune-up race should be comfortable, there are a few things that I mean. It's okay to run at your goal race pace, but the tune-up should feel comfortably fast. You can push yourself slightly harder than you would during a typical long run, but you should still feel somewhat relaxed. You have to remember that your goal isn't to crush the tune-up race but rather to help yourself prepare for your final goal race. Always keep your final goal in mind.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to not make any drastic changes to your race-day plan or training after the tune-up race. Depending on how far into training you are, you don't want to shake things up too much before your goal race. Take note after the tune-up race of slight changes you want to make for the final weeks of your training, but any drastic shifts could hurt your final performance. Remember to have confidence in the training you've completed so far and what you have left before your final race.
Why Rock 'n' Roll is the Perfect Tune-Up Race
So why did I choose Rock 'n' Roll Raleigh? Because I love the Rock 'n' Roll Race series. First of all, they're everywhere so it's easy to find a race that fits nicely into your training schedule. This will be my 8th Rock 'n' Roll race and the 6th Rock 'n' Roll city that I'll be adding to my collection. I'm always looking for a new Rock 'n' Roll city to run in each year.
Rock 'n' Roll is also just a killer race series. The music alone is a huge reason I come back year after year. The on-course entertainment is such a great distraction and the bands are always phenomenal. I've actually run most of my RnR races for time in the past so I'm looking forward to a more casual effort that will let me take in more of the entertainment.
Lastly, the races are incredibly well organized. Rock 'n' Roll has a huge series of races so they've gotten most of the details nailed down at this point. More organization means fewer nerves throughout the race which is the perfect environment for a tune-up run. Did I mention the finisher's party and the bling?!
If you've never run a Rock 'n' Roll race, I encourage you to make 2018 the year you give it a shot. You can also use the code "RNRBRP2018" to get $15 off your registration to many of their races, check out my Discount Page for full details, and maybe I'll see you in Raleigh!