The Race Buddy Training Method

Michael R

I was sitting on pins and needles, eagerly awaiting the launch of the Flyers’ new Marathon Training Program.  The program would be unveiled soon and I was watching for news.  I also knew it would be a special program this year and very different from the previous program we offered.  Then, late one night our president, Alan G., posted an announcement that we would be partnering with the New York Road Runners (NYRR) in their Race Buddy program.  I thought, “This must be it!  The new Marathoin Training Program!!”  With space limited to only ten participants, I signed up immediately without even reading the details.  I got in and I knew it would be great!

Flyer Race Buddies and Course Marshalls included:
Joanna C, Dave K, Noirin L, Lara K, Wendy B, Michael R, Maribeth C (Course Marshall), Josefine I (Course Marshall), John McC,  plus Lizabeth R (blue cap), Meredith J (pink socks), and Amy S (Course Marshall but not pictured here)

The program launched on June 2nd at the annual NYRR Celebrate Israel Run 4-Mile Race.  Program participants were instructed to arrive at 6AM for introductions.  This all seemed a bit unusual to me.  I’m not normally an early morning runner but I had high expectations and trusted that the program would be worth it.   It seemed particularly odd to be kicking off the program in conjunction with a major race.  However, I decided to “go with the flow” and implicitly trust my new guru coaches, whoever they would be.

On that morning the coaches arrived at their own rhythm and seemed to be a somewhat ragtag group.  As we were assigned to our coaches I sensed that this would definitely not be a typical marathon training program.  Plus I soon felt self-conscious and ill-equipped, noticing that one of my Flyer friends came armed with a walkie-talkie in case she got lost running along the course.

Flyers Course Marshall Maribeth C

One feature of the program that immediately struck me was that the ratio of participants to coaches was completely reversed.  I had six coaches assigned just to me!  They called themselves the Tappan Tigers.  They seemed to be a bit short and on the youngish side, but I was determined to simply let go and trust.  It was time for the program and the race to start.

I had thought they were simply late in arriving but there was method to their madness.  The first lesson my new coaches taught me was:  rather than jostling for a corral position near the front of the race pack, enter the corrals at the rear after two-thirds of the runners have already crossed the start line.  This was simply brilliant.  We were able to start running immediately and there was no half-stepping toward the start line or pesky runners behind us!

My six coaches immediately scattered in as many different directions and left me wondering what I was supposed to do next.  This was a great lesson in race stress management and a testament to their coaching wisdom.  I was forced to let go of my anxiety and just let things unfold.  I kept running toward the start line trusting that they would find me when I needed them.  This, in fact, did happen.  Soon after I crossed the start line my two principal coaches, Shankea and Elijah, were waiting for me as they strolled along the course.  Thus the real training began as I adjusted my pace to match my coaches’.   The other four coaches had vanished mysteriously and I wondered what they had in store for me.

With Two of My Coaches

Shankea and Elijah had devised for me a very unorthodox training protocol.  The primary strategy was a radical run/walk method but much less focused on the run part.  I learned much from them as the day progressed.  This is the core of what they taught me: 

• Pace yourself.  A very hot and humid day might not be the best day to push your limits or to run four miles if you’ve never run more than three before.  In fact, on a day like that it might be enough to just run through the corrals to the start line.
• Enjoy the course.  Look around, particularly if you don’t spend much time in Central Park.  Who knows what that squirrel might be up to?
• Hydrate.  Stop and take a cup of water whenever one is offered.  In fact, stop and take five.  
• Listen to your body.  Potty stops can offer an unexpected opportunity to relax and unwind.
• Know your priorities.  It can be very comforting to stop and hug a tree, as Elijah showed me.
• Improvise.  When your legs are tired, anything makes a good seat.
• Mix it up.  Sometimes skipping can make the time pass more quickly.
• Perception is reality.  Believing there is a pebble in your shoe is the same as there actually being one in there.  You might as well take your shoe(s) off to make sure.
• Let go of your ego.  Every once in a while it’s OK to remind yourself that you’ve entered a race by running for a few yards.  But there’s no shame in just walking if that’s all your legs have in them.
• Motivation matters.  Knowing that there’s a lottery at the end of the race might be very exciting but may not necessarily provide enough motivation to reach the finish line any sooner than you’re ready to.  An Xbox might have done it, though.
• Know your reserves.  No matter how tired you are, you always have enough energy to sprint the final 50 yards of your race.
• Learn.  An hour-and-a-half is all it takes to make friends from perfect strangers.  Everyone has a great story to tell, irrespective of his or her age, and time passes much more enjoyably when you’re sharing stories.

If you haven’t caught on yet, this was not the launch of the new Flyers Marathon Training Program.  Rather, the Flyers were invited by New York Road Runners to participate in their Race Buddy program at the Celebrate Israel run.  It’s a nice program in which experienced runners are paired with kids during a race to help them appreciate running and motivate them to the finish.

Getting Instructions from NYRR Before the Race

Nine other Flyers also participated and were assigned to different kids.  Our experiences varied widely.  I was assigned a group of city kids from PS 46 (The Arthur Tappan School) between 10-13 years old who were thrilled to simply reach the end of a 4-mile course and sprint across the finish line.  I shared the thrill.

Flyer Race Buddies Lara K, Dave K, Michael R and Wendy B

Dave K's Young Runner
Katherine from the NEST School
Finishes Her First Ever Race

Mysteriously my other four “coaches” somehow found me within half a mile of the finish.  Some were ahead and some were behind but, in the end, we all came together and found the finish line.  This last lesson was “Trust.”  It didn’t matter that the main race was over, the mats pulled, and the lottery already called… these guys had a great time and were proud of their efforts.  I was proud of them, too.  I’d recommend the experience to anyone.

-Michael R.