Sixth of the series
By Bob Cooper
SIXTH RESOLUTION: Win A Medal
Finisher T-shirts are great, but the award that sets you apart from the finishing hordes is the coveted age-group medal. This is the prize you'll proudly display in a prominent spot in your home (if your spouse allows it, that is). But how do you win one—other than, you know, training harder and racing faster? A few "cherry-picking" tactics can be deployed.
MAKE IT HAPPEN
Choose a race that puts you in a five-year rather than a 10-year age division, which doubles the odds of winning something. Compete on weekends when there are multiple races in your area, which scatters the competition. And pick events that aren't well publicized. Peter Cini, a runner in Fairfax, Virginia, also suggests: "Low-turnout races, inaugural races, and races put on by churches or schools often have easy competition and good prizes." See last year's times online.
Cini notes that sometimes these strategies backfire: A slow age-group field with great awards one year is often followed by a stacked field the next year because the word gets out. There is no cakewalk. Just ask Apollo Creed (Rocky) or Goliath how their matches turned out. The only sure way to up your odds of taking home a den-worthy award is to train hard and consistently.
DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY 9
This is the year I will...
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