5 fun things you can do with your race bibs
MARLEY DICKINSON JUNE 2, 2022, Active.com
Unsure of what to do with your race bib? Try these fun ideas
Have you ever Google searched what you’re supposed to do with race bib numbers? If so, you have probably run across many different and ridiculous methods on what to do with them.
As you run more and more races, the race bibs begin to add up. Like many other hoarders, I am someone who refuses to throw out a race bib no matter how the race goes. I see a race bib as an experience and a memory of that day or race.
For others, collecting bibs can be sentimental and something you can always look at later on in your running career. Instead of throwing your bibs straight into the garbage, here are five fun ideas to do with your race bibs.
Pin them to your wall
If Steve Prefontaine did it, you can too. Find some wall real estate in your home or apartment (the kitchen is not recommended) where you can pin your race bibs onto the wall. This is an old-school way of showing off the races you’ve done and giving off the major runner vibes to everyone that enters your race bib room.
If you run out of real estate on the wall, find a new spot or make some cuts to your current collection by taking down bibs you don’t care too much about.
Create a race bib shoebox
Kill two hoarding birds with one stone by using old shoeboxes to store your race bibs. This is an efficient way to keep your race bibs organized and not in the way of your roommates. Storing your race bibs in a shoebox is like saying, “Hey, I’m a serious runner but I want you to get to know me first.”
The convenient thing about storing them in a shoe box is it’s easy to move them around from place to place: Moving? No problem. Storage? No problem. Wine night show and tell? No problem.
Frame them
Some race bibs are more sentimental than others. Most runners will frame a Boston Marathon race bib or another race that means a lot to them. Framing bibs is another way to keep the collection fun, yet organized. Like pinning the bibs to the wall, this method portrays serious runner vibes to guests.
A binder or scrapbook
If you are looking for another fun creative method, hole-punch your bibs into a binder or put them into a scrapbook. Like a high school yearbook, a race bib binder makes it easy to look back on your personal bests and to show your kids how fast you once were.
Similar to the shoebox method, having a race bib binder or scrapbook keeps things organized and convenient to move around.
Try something crafty
If you are looking to go overboard on the creative side, use your old Tyvek race bibs and sew them onto a quilt and pillow. To start, sew your bib onto T-shirt material or fabric. After step one is complete, sew it directly onto the pillow or quilt. For more instruction, check out here.
Although this method is time-consuming, it’s a super cool way to show off your running accomplishments and creativity around your home.
The marathon is hard, but longer tempo runs can help those who often struggle in the late stages
Tempo workouts are a staple for runners of every distance. If you are unfamiliar with tempo runs, they are designed to feel ‘easy/hard’ to help build your endurance. The marathon is tough, but tempo runs can help those who often struggle in the late stages of the race feel more confident about maintaining their race pace.
In case you are unsure of how hard a tempo run should feel, you should be able to answer a question or hold a short conversation mid-workout. Ask yourself, “Is this pace OK?” If you feel like it’s not, it’s a sign you are going too fast, and could dial it back slightly so you can maintain it longer.
The workout
Five mins, 10 mins, 15 mins, 15mins, 10mins, five mins (all off two minutes’ slow jog rest)
The workout should be run at a slightly faster pace than your goal marathon pace. For example, if your marathon goal is running under four hours (which would mean you’d need to maintain an average pace of 5:40/km), you should run your tempos at 10 to 15 seconds faster per kilometre (5:25-5:30/km).
Treat the two minutes’ rest between reps as a slow jog or walk. Jogging the rest will help you add additional volume to your weekly training mileage. After each rep, focus on your breathing and stay relaxed before starting the next.
It is essential to hit the paces for the first three reps of this workout to help you finish the last three reps at a slightly faster pace.
After you complete the workout, you can calculate your average pace through the 60 minutes of tempo to determine your potential for the first half of the marathon. Add 10 to 15 seconds per kilometre to the average pace, to give you a rough estimate of how fast you should go out in the first half of the race.
Make sure to include a 15- to 20-minute warmup before starting the workout.
Categories: Training Tags: fall marathon, long tempo, marathon build, marathon training, pyramid workout, tempo workout, tips for runners
Substitute any of these workouts for your regular interval training when you're time-crunched
We’ve all heard it before: consistency is key. While you know the basics–get out the door regularly, do most of your running slow and a little bit of it fast–even the best training plans go out the window sometimes when life happens. When you’re already mentally stressed, the last thing you want to worry about is losing fitness. Here are three shorter workouts you can slot into a busy schedule and still reap the rewards of a longer speedwork session.
Simple speedwork for time-crunched days
This adaptable workout can be thrown into any athlete’s training plan, during any season. Take it to the trails for some hill work or add more or fewer intervals depending on the time available.
Warm up with 10 minutes of easy running
10-15 x 1 minute fast, 1 minute easy
Cool down with 10 minutes of easy running
Tempo and speed combo
This workout bridges speed and strength, combining the tempo run (which helps to get you race-ready) with some quick intervals. The speed intervals are like the “fast finish” portion of some long runs–they will remind your legs they have a bit of kick left, while also making the workout just that little bit more challenging. Use the easy portion in the middle for a super slow, gentle (but short) recovery.
Warm up with 10 minutes of easy running
15- to 20-minute moderate tempo run, 5 minutes easy, 6-8 x 30 seconds fast/30 seconds easy
Cool down with 10 minutes of easy running
30-minute sustained effort on mixed terrain
Try to do this workout on a trail or road that has some climbs and descents, or even program a treadmill with a variety of inclines. If you’re stuck somewhere flat without a hill in sight, you can certainly still benefit. Keep that one-hour effort in mind, and try not to go faster–you want to prep your body for race pace without overdoing it. You can add a warmup and cooldown to this one if you have time, running easy for five to 10 minutes at both ends.
Make sure the day following any of these sessions is rest or easy running. You can count on these workouts to give you the training effect of a longer session and can substitute them into your schedule whenever you’re short on time.
Categories: Training Tags: classic track and road workouts, fast intervals, hill work, running training, short intervals, short on time, speedwork, sustained effort, tempo run, tempo workout, time-crunched athlete