Susan Gilbert is living proof that proper training pays off.
She is a 47 year old mother of two with no running experience, having only walked in a few local races. She decided in January that she would train to run in the Crescent City Classic, a 10K road race. At my urging, Susan followed the Classic’s Official Training Guide and its 13-week schedule. Her high school daughter, Lauren, already an accomplished runner, was recovering from an injury so she followed the training schedule as part of her physical therapy rehabilitation. Together, they began training, often running at 5 a.m. to accommodate Susan’s work schedule at Nicholls State in Thibodaux.
"Sometimes I talk myself out of doing stuff because of my age," Susan told the Houma Courier newspaper while training, "I don’t want age to be a barrier, but sometimes we let it be in our minds."
Susan’s positive outlook and diligence catapulted her to success. The training guide is a tried and true system, a testament to the old adage: “slow and steady wins the race”. My fifteen-plus years of experience designing the training guide has proven that joggers and runners need to be patient over the long haul and avoid the temptation to do too much, too soon, too fast. It is a very basic training program, easy to follow. (Of course, see your doctor before starting any training program, particularly if you are over 40 years of age.)
For Susan Gilbert, the training schedule worked. “It was awesome,” she said the week following the Classic. “I followed the training guide verbatim all the way through. I was worried I wasn't going to make it, but the race was a cinch, it really was.”
Susan ran the entire 10K, never stopping. “At the end of the race, I had some energy left to kick it in. I even passed some people. I was so proud of myself,” Susan said.
Susan’s hooked. She felt great the day after the race. She took a couple of days off and then she was back at it – running three miles.
Her daughter Lauren, suffering from a previous stress fracture, also followed the training guide, to aid her recovery. Lauren, who finished second in the state cross country meet last November, followed the jogger’s guide instead of the racer’s schedule. She, too, had no problems during or after the race.
There are some important lessons to be learned here:
- You are never too old to undertake an appropriate exercise or training program. If you can’t run in the Classic – train to walk it.
- Patience pays off! Pushing yourself too hard, too fast, can lead to frustration, fatigue, and in some cases, injury. Remember, the goal is to be healthy and ready on race day.
- Training with a friend can be a great motivator. Susan and Lauren supported each other and were each a source of inspiration – even on those early morning runs.
- A positive mental attitude is important in attaining your goal.
