OK so what do you do?
I normally have a bit of a slow plod for a minute or so, and add in a couple of sprints for a short race. Then for longer races I actually tend to do nothing and take the first mile easy-ish.
Today I thinik I learnt a big lesson for short races. I was doing a 5 mile race, did my usual plod for a couple of hundred yards, then lined up for the start. I blasted off (for me anyway) for the first mile. But had a sharp downfall in the second mile when my chest tightened up and I struggled to breathe. With it being such a short race you can't afford a slow mile, as you haven't got time to recover. I had to take my inhaler for the first time during a race.
I basically think I hadn't warmed up enough, and the first fast mile was a shock to my system, especially seeing as my training is geared up for longer/slower runs.
I'm now thinking that I probably needed a slow plod to last about 15-20 mins first, with some sprints in the last couple of mins as a warm up.
Does that sound about right? Anyone got any suggestions?
I normally have a bit of a slow plod for a minute or so, and add in a couple of sprints for a short race. Then for longer races I actually tend to do nothing and take the first mile easy-ish.
Today I thinik I learnt a big lesson for short races. I was doing a 5 mile race, did my usual plod for a couple of hundred yards, then lined up for the start. I blasted off (for me anyway) for the first mile. But had a sharp downfall in the second mile when my chest tightened up and I struggled to breathe. With it being such a short race you can't afford a slow mile, as you haven't got time to recover. I had to take my inhaler for the first time during a race.
I basically think I hadn't warmed up enough, and the first fast mile was a shock to my system, especially seeing as my training is geared up for longer/slower runs.
I'm now thinking that I probably needed a slow plod to last about 15-20 mins first, with some sprints in the last couple of mins as a warm up.
Does that sound about right? Anyone got any suggestions?