When therapist Dr. Jeff Howlin uses a relay race to make points about human nature, he strikes a chord with athletes who truly understand how much goes into that critical baton pass. Howlin compares relay races to life experiences since each runner takes responsibility for pushing his team to victory and shares equally in the rewards.
From the fastest sprinter to the guy who won’t win speed contests, everyone on the team benefits from undertaking this type of race.
The baton/tag as metaphor? It can be if you approach your participation in the ASICS Relay Singapore on 4th November as another “leg” of your life’s journey, where being part of something bigger than yourself can come down to your ability to pass a stick fearlessly in pursuit of a goal that has more implications than just winning.
You’ll discover so much more about yourself than just medals awaiting your team’s collaborative effort.
About the ASICS Relay Singapore 2017
Love the idea of being part of a unique event as packed with tradition as it is with excitement? Start training now to play your own part in this exciting drama as you choose to run in your gender-specific category or ally yourself with members of the opposite sex to show the world that diversity rules.
Choose between two categories; the full (42km) or half (21km) marathon distance. Whether you’re new to the relay scene or you’re a veteran with stories to tell, you won’t encounter another bonding experience that’s this powerful and if you don’t have fun training for and participating in a relay event, you’re doing something wrong!
Since Singapore is the third and final relay in the 2017 ASICS Relay series, you can expect a spectacular finish that closes out the year as you and your pals undertake critical baton hand-offs along the Kallang River route where you’ll find out if all of that practice you and the team undertook did the job. And of course, the post-finish celebration never disappoints, no matter how your team fares in the final standings.
How to prepare for the ASICS Relay
Your first job is to recruit fellow relay runners who are fearless, sure-footed and sure-handed. Next, set up a training schedule so you get to know everyone else’s hand-off style and running propensity.
Figure out the best order of runners so each teammate is positioned most effectively. A coach helps if your team is composed of beginners, but if everyone is willing to do the work it takes to prepare, it’s possible to self-train.
Need additional guidance? We recommend getting the gang together and sharing copies of Jenny Hadfield’s “Runner’s World” article: so you have a specific program to follow that prepares you and your team for November.
Next up: register today at Spacebib so you don’t miss the deadline.
Pick up your essentials—exclusive ASICS-branded race tee, personalised race bib with timing chip and assortment of goodies provided by race sponsors and supporters—between Friday and Sunday, the 27th to 29th October at a race pack collection venue to be determined. That’s another reason to bookmark that Spacebib link because the race pack collection site will be posted there immediately after it’s announced.
Think of team first, winning second
All of that talk about psychologically preparing to run a race that’s technically out of your complete control should humble you and make you acutely aware of how important each of your team members is to the success of your mission. Therefore, it’s wise to set rules so everyone reaches the finish line and collects more than medals and kudos:
- Don’t allow anger and resentment to build. Address conflicts immediately so everyone can move on harmoniously.
- Avoid pressuring teammates to perform at higher levels if they don’t meet your standards. Everyone’s unique.
- Encourage, don’t criticise. Criticism is especially damaging to team spirit if delivered in front of everyone.
- Use humour as often as you can to temper stress and tension. Jokes have the power to smooth out anxiety that can build up as the race date nears.
- Praise and encouragement go a long way, so use both liberally and often to bolster teammates’ egos.
- No playing the blame game or issuing negative judgements.
- Remember that you’re all in this together—no matter what the outcome happens to be.
Psychologists have proven that humour does a great job of defusing tension. What’s the funniest experience you’ve witnessed or heard about that originated at a relay race?
[su_button url=”https://www.spacebib.com/events/view/asics-relay-singapore-2017-271?utm_source=runsociety&utm_medium=article” target=”blank” style=”flat” background=”#1f499d” color=”#ffffff” size=”12″ wide=”yes” center=”yes” radius=”5″ icon_color=”000000″ text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #070101″ desc=”Together with your best team”]Challenge the ASICS Relay Now![/su_button]