May is that time of the year when you get to enjoy the activity called Bay to Breakers like a local of San Francisco.
It was after the earthquake and fire in SF in 1906 that the very first Bay to Breakers was organized in 1912 in order to boost the morale of the locals.
For the past many years, this has become an event that cannot be missed of the nation which is a 12k race. This event is also lauded as the Mardi Gras of the West Coast, which nearly the whole city is drawn out and would come in costume to celebrate, making SF a great city.
It is advisable though to be careful and not underestimate the race so that you will avoid experiencing some dangerous results. Therefore, it is good to learn some guidelines in order to avoid getting into some incidents and will get you into the fun of the race.
The number one thing to do is train ahead of time, for a 12km or seven miles long distance, because if you are not used to running long distance, you could face some health risks with your heavy costume on.
In order to get ready for race after years of stagnant experience, you can follow some activities to do beforehand.
The first thing you have to do is to work your way up, which means do not try to start running the 12km right away but start with challenging but attainable goal. Some training programs would make you start with a three mile run, or a 30-minute running sessions, and making it longer on weekends. Uncomfortable obstacles could happen like shortness of breath and shin splints, but will lead you to a power breakthrough.
Wearing the right gear would make your running easier, just like in any job where using the right tools would ease your performance. One important gear is the right shoes which is of paramount importance to be worn, for wearing the wrong ones would make you overexert efforts and might lead to some injuries.
Next is to try cross training, like running for three days a week as a start and on your off days to push your body regularly. To work your muscles, you can use resistance bands to condition your body without pushing hard.
Remember that diet matters, which means what you eat before the race day could create a big impact in your performance. It is therefore advisable to maintain a healthy diet during your training, and do some carbohydrate loading the day before the race so you will have plenty of energy for the event.