A lot of people ask us where did VictorGo get its name. Well have you ever heard of the saying "To the Victor Go the Spoils"? That's it. It's all about victory whether it be winning a marathon race, accomplishing a personal best time, or any other challenge you have had to overcome. Sometime victory comes in the form of defeat or the inner struggles you mentally overcome during a race. VictorGo is dedicated to providing you inspiring, useful information to help you achieve your goals.
I'm new to marathons and long endurance races, how do I get started?
There some important considerations you need to take heed to when making the decision to start a marathon or long endurance race. Like with most new things, research can be the best starting point. Check out running books and magazines to get yourself acquainted with the sport. Search the internet for blogs or forums. Get involved in those online communities for other tips. Also, check your local community for clubs or groups. Odds are there are varying levels (beginer, intermediate, and advanced). We really like the following webpage highlighting a beginner's guide to running. Find the article here.
The next step is to become prepared. Get the proper equipment that will be lightweight and comfortable. We recommend going to a store that has a knowledgeable staff about the sport as opposed to a giant retail chain. Synthetic blend apparel is a great start (i.e. socks, shorts, shirts).
Start keeping track of your daily workouts. Get a calendar to record what you've done. Look ahead a week or two down the road and envision where you want to be and start to set goals. Whether it be for time or distance or both. This can be a high motivator. If you don't achieve your goal, you can look back and improve. If you acheieve you goal, set a higher goal next time.
Make sure that you are taking care of your body with good food and water. Your muscles and mind will thank you and you will see the results. There are millions of sources out there for sports nutrition. What is right and what is wrong will depend on your body type. Experiment with different forms of diet. A general rule of thumb is if you have a workout or race of 60 minutes or less, water is the way to go. Read more on our diet plan section.
Lastly, don't make your race or your run your only workout in between races or training sessions. Don't be afraid to take a day off to let your body heal. Also you will need to mix in weight training and stretching. Every day you should stretch.
What are the advantages of working out with a group of people?
Working out on your own can be very convienient because you create your own schedule. But group workouts can be extremely motivating and that much more enjoyable. There is constant motivation and encouragement among the group members. No workout group is formed to see who can be the laziest. A group workout can turn into a friendly compeititon among your peers and you will feel more apt to stick to a program.
Group workouts can yeild better results to record keeping. While working out on your own, you may beat your time by 10 seconds and you feel great about that. But if you were in a group and your friend increased their time by 30 seconds, you will feel that much more motivation to get better and work that much harder.
A lot of times working out on your own or hiring a personal trainer can take a pinch out of your wallet or purse. Hiring a personal trainer for the group would be cheaper for all involved.
Meeting new people is a great reward of group workouts. It's hard to carry a conversation or get to know yourself better if all you do is run by yourself. It can be very rewarding meeting new friends and getting to know them.
The top 3 reasons to work out in a group: motivation, motivation and MOTIVATION. Without a doubt, group training is a great motivator.
What are the best endurance workouts?
If you only have a limited amount of time per week to run a few miles and you are able to sing along to your music, this is not going to cut. You will need to take full advantage of each run. Our top 3 marathon workouts are:
1. Long Runs: Try not to let your long runs be more than 30% of your weekly mileage, but if you only have a few days a week to run you can vary from this general rule of thumb. Run about 2 minutes slower per mile than your 5k race pace or about 70 to 75%. Go ahead and lengthen your long run by 1 mile each week until your recovery week. Keep adding miles until you reach 20 or so, or until you reach 3 to 3 1/2 hours. Remember to do your longest workout run 3 weeks before your race.
2. LT Runs (or Lactage Threshold): This pace is around 10 to 15 seconds per mile slower than your 5k race pace or 80 to 85%. These runs should feel like a slight struggle. There are different variations of this particular workout. A. continuous runs starting at 3 miles and up to 8 miles (or 45 minutes, whichever comes first) B. Interval runs with short rest periods (3-4 miles with 1 minute rest) C. Shorter intervals and run at a faster pace than normal. Run 5-10 seconds faster than your mile pace with 45 seconds rest in between
3. Combination of 1 and 2: Do your LT/LSD combo runs as a medium-long run (12 to 16 miles), including LT segments at the beginning, middle, and/or end of the run. Some examples are: 1) 4 miles at LT pace + 8 miles easy; 2) 5 miles easy + 3 miles at LT pace + 5 miles easy + 3 miles at LT pace; and 3) 10 miles easy + 4 miles at LT pace. After you've done a number of these runs, try running faster than LT pace for the last mile or two of the final LT segment, which will get you sharp for the marathon. For example, run 9 miles easy + 4 miles at LT pace + 1 to 2 miles faster than LT pace. You may want to run the LT segments on a track, where you can closely monitor your pace. Because these workouts are very tough, alternate the long run with the LT/LSD combo run every other week, and after three or four weeks, don't do either run for one recovery week.
What are the best speed workouts?
We know what you are thinking, I'm doing a long distance run where do speed workouts have a place? They most absolutely have a place in long distance endurance races. We highly recommend reviewing the following article that explains in great detail why you need to take heed to speed workouts. Click here for the article.
Explain the psychology of long races?
You are 3 miles into your race and you are just not feeling it today. How do you get over the mental wall to keep pushing yourself? This is a question that faces every runner. There are some things you can think about to help you through your journey. First, try to focus on small sectional goals. Meaning, pick a landmark or spot off that you are running towards and challenge yourself to get there. Once you do, pick out a further landmark. How do you eat a elephant? One piece at a time. TAke this approach with you on your next race. Think about an inspiring movie you just saw. Think about why you are racing in the first place, control and time your breathing to gather a rhythm.
Your mind can play tricks on you, so play some tricks back to it. Firstly you will need to have confidence in yourself that comes with the proper training. Imagine that your brain has lied to you about your limitations all this time. Every time you push yourself past one of those physical misconceptions, your brain will start to question it's ability to determine limitations in the first place. After a couple times, your brain begins to believe you have no limitations and that is when you can reach your true potential.
