By Cheryl D. Hart
The ominous warning, “Beware the Ides of March” began with the Julius Caesar, the Roman ruler who was assassinated March 15, 44 B.C. However, before that, it was simply one of several dates on the ancient Roman calendar, used to denote lunar events each month.
Ides, the Latin term for “half division” designated the fifteenth day of the month of March, May, July and October or the thirteenth day of other months and just meant the appearance of a full moon. After the assassination, the phrase, “Beware the Ides of March” took on a completely different meaning. It came to symbolize a time of abrupt change that instigated a ripple of repercussions.
Likewise, runners should beware of getting complacent in winter. You may be caught off-guard with the sudden emergence of spring. March is your warning to be prepared. It's often a rather gloomy, gray-colored month, but before you know it, you will be searching through clothes in winter storage, trying to find running shorts and t-shirts.
What should you do if you are just coming out of hibernation and haven't logged those necessary base miles over the winter? Is it too late to play catch-up and get ready for the Triple Crown of running races or the Mini-Marathon?
The answer is, “No it is not too late, but you need to begin now.” First, make the commitment to begin today. Sign up immediately for at least one of the events and post the entry form and flyer where you can see it everyday. It will serve as a reminder of why you are getting out of bed to meet the road. Carefully construct a training schedule with quality rather than quantity runs. Be sure to include recovery days in between workouts.
The first leg of the Triple Crown of Running is the Anthem 5K on March 3. It is a perfect race distance to simply “blow off the cobwebs.” Consider this the beginning of your early spring cleaning. Three miles is short enough to be safe and the crowd of runners and spectators will help to get your heart pumping and commitment solidified.
Treat yourself to some new running gear. In the time it takes for you to dig through boxes in the attic for last year's summer running clothes, you could be dressed in a sleek new outfit and on the road. It's an easy way to perk up your self-image and make you feel renewed. Remember the adage, “Dress for success.” It holds true for running, as well as business. Also, remember that most novice runners overdress for these running events. If you feel comfortable with the temperature at the starting line, you will be hot a mile into the race.
By gradually adding mileage to your long runs, you will be prepared for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Rodes City Run on March 17. The 6.2 mile event is a popular and manageable distance for most runners and this course is for the most part flat.
The Papa John's 10 miler is one of my favorite races and is the perfect trial run for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon (13.1 miles, scheduled for April 28). Held March 31, the half-marathon (or marathon) will be the culmination of your Triple Crown of Running events and the real cue that spring has sprung.
Remember to incorporate hills into your training for this, as the course for Papa Johns and the Mini-Marathon takes you up into 3 miles of hills in Iroquois Park . It is always best to log a training run that is over the distance of the race you plan to run. Your longest run should be scheduled for three weeks out from your “A priority” race. In this case, the weekend of March 10 should be your longest run prior to the event.
As you train, familiarize yourself with your goal pace so that you prepare yourself physically and mentally to accomplish it on race day. Do not set yourself up for disappointment by expecting to run an unrealistic race pace that you have never trained to handle on long runs. The long runs are meant to enhance both your endurance and ability to handle a specific desired pace.
The month of March reminds me of butterflies emerging from their cocoons, and flying into the sunshine. Spring has always symbolized new growth and new possibilities. It's time for runners to shed the weight of winter coats, extra layers of fat and excuses and feel the lightness of being fully alive.
Hopefully, next year, we will embrace the mindset of the ancient Romans and no longer consider “Beware the Ides Of March” an ominous warning, but simply a reminder that the 15 th of March means it's time to log that quality long run before Papa John's.
