Training for Race is a Project

Introduction: Crossing the Finish Line

There it was, the finish line. After thousands of feet of climbing up and down countless hills, I rounded the corner and saw the blow-up arches with the word "FINISH" emblazoned across the top. Crowds were gathered on either side of the ropes, leading you to the finish with an over-zealous teenager shaking a cowbell. Beyond the arch was the large wooden wolf that race organisers always have at the finish. When you cross the finish line, you "Kiss the Wolf" for the camera.

The Moose Mountain Marathon

The Moose Mountain Marathon is a 26.2-mile trail race on the Superior Hiking Trail in northern Minnesota along Lake Superior. Although I participate in several races each year, this one is among my favourites—and one of the toughest! I entered the lottery in January and received confirmation of my acceptance in February. At that moment, my Project Trail Run officially began.

A Race as a Project?

When we think of projects, we think of tasks we do at work in support of a bigger picture. Or a project that needs to be done around the house. We seem to be doing projects all the time. But, especially for those who compete in various sports, have you ever thought of participating in a race as a project?  

In my opinion, yes, it is a project. The definition of a project is a temporary endeavour to create a unique product, service, or result. Let's get into what makes racing a project:

1. Temporary

Projects have a start and end date. My project starts when I click the "Submit Payment" button when signing up for a race. When I pay, the clock starts. The end date of this project is when I cross the finish line. Sometimes, that's a couple of months from the start; other times, it's almost a year away. In any case, I have a start and an end date. Yeah, it's temporary.

2. Unique

Since I'm not creating a product or service, we'll go with the result. When you finish a race, you'll have a result, usually measured by the rank of how you finished and your time. But in addition to the result, I would also include experience. At least for a lot of the races I do, I love to experience the sights and sounds of the course (i.e. I just climbed a 200' hill and got one heck of a view). My time and my experiences during the event are unique to me. Yeah, it's unique.

Applying Project Management to Racing

Now that I've made my case for a race to be a project let me share some of the functions I perform during my temporary race endeavours.

1. Selection and Initiation

Every year, I make a list of events I'd like to do. Out of the 20+ I list out, I get to choose about 5-8 (depending on location and race distance). So, I need to prioritise. Once prioritised, I find out when registration opens and am Johnny on the Spot to sign up since most fill up quickly.

2. Planning

When people tell me they can't find a training plan, I laugh. Google just about any event and someone's created a plan. Use that as a baseline to create your own. Just about every plan I've seen or used talks about modifications. At the end of the day, have a training plan you can align and commit to.

3. Risk Mitigation

I'm in my late 40's. I don't bounce back from injuries like I used to. Any soreness or small problem is quickly addressed. Stretching is a requirement before and after every workout. A massage gun has become a necessity. Strength training is vital. All in the name of mitigating risk and injuries.

4. Execution

Once you have a plan, it is time to execute. Check off the days and keep track of the miles. Plot your progression, understanding some days are going to be a lot harder than others. Rain sucks, but get out there anyway. It may rain on race day, too. Continually execute and monitor your progress.

5. Go-Live: Race Day

I say my last day of training is race day. It's also go-live. You've trained for this. All those hours (probably many of which were alone) boil down to this moment. Enjoy the excitement of the start, the experience of the event, and the celebration of finishing.

6. Close-Out and Retrospective

After the race, take time to reflect. What went well? What didn't? What happened that was unexpected and didn't occur during training? How will you handle it differently next time? These lessons learned can make you stronger in the future.   

Racing is a Team Effort

Finally, don't let anyone tell you this isn't a team event. Sure, you're putting in the miles of training and racing on race day. However, without the support and understanding of family and friends, events like this would not be possible. Give kudos to those who've supported you along the way. Without my team, success would not be possible.

Conclusion

Next time you sign up for a race, think of it like a project. Maybe even give it a name (i.e. Project: Marathon or 13.1). Initiate by signing up, putting a training plan together, training, and successfully completing it! These temporary and unique endeavours will test you, but you got this.