How to: "Run Like You Stole Something"

Steve Prefontaine was one of the most inspirational, most determined, most talented American runners in history. He ran a smart race, a fast race and an all guts race.

“A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts, who can punish himself into exhausting pace, and then at the end, punish himself even more.” –Steve Prefontaine

At CrossFit Monrovia, they have the saying “run like you stole something,” meaning run as fast as you can and push yourself to run even faster in workouts or races. But how is that possible?

While running (i.e. cross country or track) may seem like one of the simplest, easiest sports, it actually requires skill and technique, along with a person’s self determination and motivation to log in the mileage necessary on a daily basis, to be a smart, efficient and great runner.

Being a competitive runner not only requires knowledge of the tricks of the trade, but also knowing how to take care of your body.

What do you need to know to have a good race?

Along with hydrating on the day of the race, and a couple of days prior to the race, it is also important to be sure you are eating healthy, staying away from midnight snacks, and getting plenty of sleep.

On race day, it is important to keep yourself in a positive mindset. As for the race itself, here are a couple of secrets.

(1) At the start of the race, do your best to position yourself up front, that way you can get a good strong start. This will help you set the pace for the remainder of the race.

(2) When you come to an uphill, do not slouch over, instead stand tall, lift your knees, and drive your hands through your pockets. This will make you much more efficient and will make that part of the run much easier.

(3) When you come to a downhill, use it; lengthen your stride and butt kick it all the way down (here is where you can pick up a lot of time).

(4) Blind turns, these are your best friends. When you come to a blind turn, serge ahead (speed up) for about 50 to 100 meters pass the turn. This allows you to lengthen your lead, without the person on your heels realizing you are picking up the pace. Once your opponent comes around the turn, it will seem like you are to far ahead and cause them to give up on trying to catch you.

(5) And on that final stretch, where you can see the finish line, kick it in, giving it all you have got.

“I tell our runners to divide the race into thirds. Run the first part with your head, the middle part with your personality, and the last part with your heart.” – Mike Fanelli

To further improve your race time, watch the video below, which breaks down the mechanics of running efficiently, how to adjust your stride and win the race.

What Is CrossFit?

So what is CrossFit?

To the unknown, it may just look like someone having a seizure; or that they are running around like a chicken with its heads cutoff, while simultaneously throwing an insane amount of weight overhead. However, you have actually just caught them in the middle of a 15-minute test of their level of fittest.

CrossFit is "constantly varied functional movements executed at a high intensity." It is an attempt to perfect your physical aptitude in each of the ten components of fitness: endurance, stamina, strength, flexibility, power, speed, coordination, balance, agility, and accuracy, executed through workouts that push you beyond your perceived limits.

While CrossFit consists of daily WODs and competing with other crossfitters to have the best and fastest time of the day or of a particular named/benchmark workout, it all leads up to the annual CrossFit Games. This yearly competition is where the best of the best compete for the title of "Fittest on Earth."

(Below is the trailer for the film "Every Second Counts." A documentary which follows five athletes competing in the 2008 CrossFit Games as they "push themselves beyond limitations imposed by the human mind and flirt with the limits of physical capacity.")

The CrossFit Games is a three-day event where both individuals and teams compete for the title of "Fittest on Earth." The competition entails anywhere from a total of three to eight events, which are not announced until a few days prior to the competition or until you step into the stadium; forcing the athletes to train all year long for a competition whose format is almost a complete mystery.