How to Work With a Trainer to Prepare for a Race

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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There are many reasons you might want to participate in a race. It could be a race for charity, a race as a means to achieve a personal fitness goal or simply a race for pure excitement. Whatever your reason for participating in a race, you need to train for it. Learn how to work with a trainer to prepare for a race. Follow these steps to learn more.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Work With Your Trainer to Prepare for a Race

Step1

Get diet advice from your trainer. When you are training for a race, your nutritional requirements may be different than normal. Your trainer will let you know the best foods to eat to build muscle and sustain energy for your upcoming racing endeavor.

Step2

Set up a schedule. Based on your current fitness level and your racing goals, your trainer will work with you to establish a regular routine of running. Expect the times and durations of your runs to gradually increase up until the big day.

Step3

Learn other exercise techniques. Training for a race isn't just about running. You will need to prepare by doing weight training and flexibility exercises in order to make sure your body is in peak physical form. Your trainer will help design a custom exercise plan incorporating the different exercises you will need to do.

Step4

Keep water on hand. Even if you are just doing a practice run, you will need to stay hydrated in order to perform at your best. Ask your trainer to remind you to drink as you run by standing by with bottles of water to hand you periodically as you complete your laps. This will also help you learn to run and drink at the same time (something you'll need to do during the race).

Step5

Ask your trainer to keep you motivated. There are a variety of ways a trainer can do this, from cheering you on to reminding you of your goals to bringing you some sort of reward when you reach certain training milestones. A good trainer will be well-versed in the art of motivation.

Tips & Warnings

Don't forget to take a break. Keep one to two days a week exercise-free. If you don't give your muscles a breather in between workouts, they will not have a chance to build the mass and strength necessary for your racing ambitions.
Always stretch before you run. Stretching helps keep you flexible, and having flexibility minimizes your risk of injury during the race.