I’ve been looking around the cardio room at the YMCA the past couple of weeks and I have noticed people using the treadmills that I would normally see on another piece of equipment such as the elliptical or Arc Trainer.

It finally occurred to me why I have seen an increase in the treadmill use as of lately…..the Clocktower 5K and 2-mile walk are coming up this weekend!

I actually planned on taking part in this annual run through the downtown area of Rome until I learned of a family event that was scheduled for the same day on the opposite side of the state. So I decided 2010 was not the year for me to tackle that wonderful run up Clocktower Hill. I

did discover earlier this week that there are several Health Questers who are going to take part in the event this weekend, so I have decided to write about some ways to prepare the body and mind for an event like this.

Whether you are going to be taking part in the race this upcoming weekend or you’re planning on participating in another one this fall (like the Roman Rumble or Mountain Day 5K), it is a good idea to sit down for a minute and establish some goals.

It can be as simple as deciding to register and complete the event, or a little more specific like working towards finishing with a specific time. Goals are for you to feel good about and something to work towards.

If you have already started training for your race make sure that you have work days as well as off days so that your body has time to rest and repair itself from those work days. A website to check out if you are just getting into running or looking into training for an event is www.marathonrookie.com.

It is full of useful information about running and training for different races including 5Ks 10Ks half and full marathons. It also has info about injury prevention, nutrition, training schedules, common mistakes and many other helpful tools and resources.

When your race day arrives remember to keep it fun and relaxing! Remind yourself of your goals and the training you have already done to get you to this point.

Eat breakfast so that your body has fuel for the race and remember to hydrate with water or a sports drink so you do not get dehydrated. Once the run/walk has started keep a steady pace that you know you can endure for the duration of the race. Remind yourself why you are taking part in the race and enjoy all that comes along with it.

Motivate yourself (especially when you hit some of those hills) by thinking encouraging thoughts to yourself. “You are doing great!” “You are a runner!” “Your body is strong.”

Visualize the finish line and think about the feeling of accomplishment you will have as you cross it. Just keep a fun and positive outlook during the race and you will come out on top!

Good luck to all of you participating in the Clocktower 5K and 2-mile walk this weekend!