I am not an elite runner. I am not someone who mixes it up at the front of races. Typically, I’m happy if I can just see the lead runners for most of the first mile. And yet I have somehow managed to win a couple races over the years. Now I don’t pick and choose races that I think I can win. That’s not why I do these events, but I can’t deny that it’s pretty cool to be the first runner to cross the finish line. You do these races long enough and you get conditioned to finishing hours and hours after first place so it’s more than a little surreal to actually win one. I’ve gone back over my wins and they each share some common traits. So here’s my best advise for winning races if you’re not fast.
Step 1 – Choose Small Races
I mean, it’s just math, right? The more people running a race, the more likely several (dozen) of them are super fast dudes (chicks). As a mid-packer, you’re just not going to beat them. The only chance you have is if they all fail to finish the race. The more of them in the race, the more statistically unlikely it becomes that all of them will drop. Your best chance obviously comes if you’re the only one signed up for the race, however this detracts from the accomplishment. In this instance, it’s really no different than winning your weekday training run (I’m undefeated on Wednesdays!).
Step 2 – Choose Less Competitive Races
Not all races have the same level of competitive fields. I’ve noticed that the more difficult the race (i.e. mountainous hundreds), the more fast/fit runners are going to sign up. The other end of the spectrum are journey runs and timed races, which cater to the mid- and back-of the pack runners with extended cutoffs and/or no set distance requirement (i.e. no DNF). Mid-pack runners can be more competitive in larger fields since there typically won’t be any elite talent.
Step 3 – Be Consistent
Even with steps one and two above, you’re going to need to bring your A game every single time. Depending on what races you sign up for or how many you do, you’re likely only going to get one or two chances to get the W. You’ll probably not know beforehand when you’re opportunity is going to present itself, so you need to be ready every time to take advantage when it arrives.
Step 4 – Keep Showing Up
The more swings at the plate, the more likely you are going to get a hit. Similarly, the more races you show up to, the more likely steps 1-3 above will align to give you your chance for a win. This may end up being the hardest thing. We’ve all got busy lives and none of us are making a living at this so it’s tough to do a ridiculous number of races each year. It’s a delicate balance between racing a lot, training in between the races, and recovering enough with all that not to get burned out. Each season is different and each year will be different depending on how your life, work, and health play out. Stay focused on the long game and circumstances will eventually fall out in your favor.
Let’s go!