October 7, 2019

The 8 stages of your first running event

Step 1: The Sign Up

You have just signed up for your first official running event. Likelihood is you have done a small amount of running before, maybe it was the odd light jog around the park, perhaps it was a guilty run on the beach after a particularly indulgent holiday feast, or it could have been that one time in February you made the rather foolish decision to get up early for an ice-cold jog before work. However, none of these runs will compare with your first official event.

When the confirmation email came through, you couldn’t help the feelings of excitement and anticipation. Something inspired you to sign up and you get the impression that this is going to be the start of the new you. Chances are, you’re right.

Step 2: Training

At the same time as this excitement, you couldn’t help but notice a very slight feeling of apprehension as you realise what lies immediately ahead of you…training.

It’s 10am on a cool, crisp sunday morning. Here you are, the new you. You’ve done all the prep: flash new trainers and running kit bought, banging running playlist created (with one or two guilty pleasures thrown in for good measure), fitness tracking app downloaded; you are ready to run.

For the first 7 minutes or so, you feel great. What was there to worry about?

Then already feel the infamous stitch coming on. You think to yourself, ‘One foot in front of the other, that’s all it is.’ 15 minutes in and somehow you are still going but ‘My god this hurts.’

You think back to the online forums. Didn’t you read something about running releasing endorphins? Something about a runner’s high? That feels a long way off…

Eventually you find yourself back outside your front door. Red-faced, breathing heavily but ultimately satisfied. It was a tough challenge but you made it through. No surprise really, after all it is the new you.

Subsequent runs become easier and easier and you start to notice that your mood is lifted. Perhaps there is something in this running thing after all.

Step 3: Pre-race

The moment has arrived. You have picked up your race pack from the registration desk (or you have received it in the post) and you have easily navigated attaching the time chip to your shoelaces. However, attaching your race number without stabbing yourself with safety pins is proving a different beast altogether. After one too many winces, one of your fellow runners comes over and offers to help. You rather sheepishly agree and begin to make some pleasant small talk about the race. You don’t realise it, but this camaraderie amongst competitors is one of the things you will come to love about running events.

After one final nervous trip to the loo (watch out for queues of fellow nervous runners), you finally make your way to the start line. Once there, you feel slightly overawed by the number of people present. You have only ever run on your own, so you are not really sure what to expect. You mingle around for a bit, nodding to the odd person who catches your eye and you feel the anticipation and excitement start to build.

Step 4: The Starting Line

Everyone is ready. The countdown begins. Hundreds of people dressed in colourful clothes simultaneously turn on their tracking apps/watches and run under the starting arch.

This is it. You are finally doing it, you are doing a race surrounded by hundreds of people all striving for the same goal. After side-stepping your way past the initial swarm, you find a group that matches your pace and settle into a rhythm. Spurred on by the sound of thousands of footsteps pounding the pavement and the crowd cheering you on, you begin to take it all in. What a rush!

Step 5: The Wall

Half way through now and things are going well. You feel like a marathon runner on TV as you speed past the water station, seamlessly grabbing a water or energy drink. Running and drinking without spilling the whole lot is a special skill in itself.

Then all of a sudden, you hit ‘The Wall’. You’ve heard about it in hushed tones in running folklore, but there’s never any warning. A sudden disconnect between your brain and body. Your perspective of time and distance becomes warped as the fatigue suddenly locks down your limbs. The prospect of running the next 100m seems like an entire marathon. The idea of finishing the race seems a complete impossibility.

Step 6: Second Wind

Out of nowhere, you feel a tap on the shoulder. Bent double, you look up and see another runner, a complete stranger, cheering you on. You give them a tired, approving nod and dig deep one more time. A cheer from the crowd urges you on, giving you yet another energy boost. That 90’s power ballad you guiltily added to your playlist comes on. You find another gear and power on. The wind is back in your sails. You can do this.

Step 7: The Finish

Soon, without really knowing how, the end is in sight. You may choose to take it slow through the final section, soaking up the applause and adulation of the crowd like a golfer on the 18th at Augusta. Alternatively you may break into a sprint, showing your enduring fitness and reaching your target time.

Whatever method you choose, there is simply no better feeling than crossing the finish line. It is joy, relief and pain all rolled into one. Weeks of self-doubt, sacrifice, and struggle have built up to this point, so you have earned the right to congratulate yourself.

You make your way through the finish area, being congratulated by and congratulating everyone that has made it as well. A communal sense of achievement fills the air. Everyone has had their own experience, but you’ve come through the same battle.

With your finisher’s medal draped around your neck, you set off to find your family and friends in the crowd. A well done and a quick hug (it is unlikely you smell your freshest) is followed by a well deserved trip out to lunch, where you continue to wear your medal, ensuring everyone knows what you have just achieved.

Step 8: Later that Evening

Sitting on the sofa, riding the endorphin high and still wearing your medal, you reminisce about the day’s events. Despite the ache gently taking over your muscles (this will last for a couple of days, but it’ll get you sympathy in the office), you realise that you’ve actually quite enjoyed your experience. There’s a voice at the back of your head telling you that you want to do it all over again or maybe you want to find a new challenge. You open up your laptop, and start searching for your next event.

Find your next Running Event

In partnership with

Latest articles

The Challenges Women Face in Running and How It Impacts Participation

Running is often lauded as one of the most accessible sports—just lace up your trainers and go. However, for many women, the barriers to participation go far beyond the logistical. While safety concerns are frequently highlighted, deeper systemic issues like access to the sport and unequal treatment are also preventing more women from running. It was a topic keenly discussed at our In Her Stride panel held at the end of November, with key members of the female running community including Sophie Power, Tasha Thompson, Rehana Mawani and Emily Shane.

Before we kick things off however, we should highlight that female participation in running events is growing, and this is a great thing! According to data from Let’s Do This, women in their 20s are the fastest-growing demographic in event participation this year. However despite this, women are still 16% less likely to run every week compared to men. This disparity is particularly striking given that women report higher levels of personal benefits from running, such as improved fitness, better sleep, and reduced stress.

The reasons for this are complex and personal, however we have broken down three key challenges discussed during our panel and the solutions explored that could help address them.

1. The Pressure of Pace

One of the biggest hurdles for many women is the pressure to run faster. Despite the average UK woman’s running speed of 06:37 min/km (according to Strava), most run clubs don’t cater to this with the slowest pace often around 6 minutes per km. Add to this the relentless focus on personal bests and fast times on social media, and it’s no surprise that many women feel too intimidated to join in.

Thankfully, there are starting to be more people rebelling against this speed obsession, including our panelist, Emily Shane. Emily has been leading the charge to encourage more women to disregard pace and focus on the experience of running to drive uptake amongst women. Initiatives like events without cutoff times and more inclusive pace groups at running clubs are vital to creating a more welcoming environment and broadening the benefits of running to the experience and community.

2. Perception of Sport in Schools

One of the topics hotly discussed was how for many girls, the barriers to enjoying physical activity start at school. Puberty, coupled with changing bodies and fluctuating emotions, can make sports feel daunting and uncomfortable for teenage girls. Research highlights this disparity: only 38% of girls enjoy sport and exercise compared to 53% of boys, and just 26% of girls feel confident in physical activity versus 43% of boys.

The panel emphasised the need to address this such as:

Introducing a wider variety of sports and fitness activities to cater to different interests
Providing more supportive and confidence-boosting PE kits.
Showcasing more female role models in sport to inspire young girls.

By addressing these issues at the school level, we can foster a love of sport that lasts into adulthood.

3. Treatment at Events

This is a topic that panelist Sophie Power, founder of SheRACES is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about. Even at organised running events, women often experience unequal treatment. From “unisex: t-shirts (which are actually designed for men) to a lack of sanitary products in portaloos, these "small things" can collectively make women feel like an afterthought. Prize money inequality and rigid event policies—like no deferral options for pregnant or postpartum women—further highlight these disparities.

Thankfully, initiatives like the 50:50 campaign by Threshold (a campaign to get 50% of women at Ultra startlines vs. the current average of 30%) and the advocacy work of SheRACES are driving change, and there are many amazing event organisers such as Maverick, Threshold, Why We Run and many more, that are working hard to make their events are inclusive as possible for women.

Despite these challenges, the panel and attendees felt overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of running for women and the benefits it brings us. Progress is being made, however we all need to add our voices to the conversation to help more women get into the sport and reap the benefits.

Some Helpful Resources‍

Here are a few helpful resources. This list isn’t exhaustive by any means, however is a good starting point for those looking for inspiration on where to start.

Female friendly events:

Female Only Run Clubs

From Radio to Race Day: Hattie Pearson’s Path to Endurance Event Glory

Hattie Pearson is the type of person who doesn’t just dabble in fitness (or most things…!) She dives in headfirst, often with no hand-holding (except, perhaps, metaphorically). From her first triathlon in 2021 to a series of jaw-dropping endurance feats in 2024, she’s been redefining what’s possible with determination, community, and a big ‘YES’ attitude.

Just say YES

Hattie’s ‘yes’ streak started when a friend and her decided to do a sprint triathlon together. “We had such a great time,” Hattie recalls, “and I was like, I want to do more of this.” That spark quickly turned into a blaze of ambition. By the following year, she was competing in Outlaw triathlons and even signing up for a full-distance Ironman—before completing her first half-distance event. “I didn’t give myself the choice to not carry on,” she says.

The Power of Community

For Hattie, discovering the 10IronWomen network—a group committed to gender parity in triathlons—was a game-changer. “It’s amazing to see a community encouraging women and non-binary folk to show up,” she explains. “Seeing others doing it made me think, I want to be a part of this.” That sense of solidarity and shared purpose has been a recurring theme, whether she’s lacing up for a winter triathlon in the Alps or a grueling ultra-marathon closer to home.

A Year of Big Goals

This year, Hattie set herself a dizzying list of challenges. She swam 500 kilometers (yep, that’s half a million meters!) and tackled a range of events, including a winter triathlon complete with ski touring, the Étape du Tour cycling challenge, and her first ultra-marathon. Each was hard in its own way—whether it was battling snowy trails with crampons or smashing out seven-and-a-half-minute miles for 13.1 miles. But for Hattie, the difficulty is the point. “Every time I achieve something I thought was impossible, I remind myself: I can do hard things.”

Balance and Burnout

With goals that ambitious, fitting it all in can be a challenge. Early mornings help. “I’m one of those people who can get up at 5:00 a.m,” Hattie admits, however it also takes a lot of discipline. With her work on Hits Radio starting later in the day, she carves out time for training, dog walks, and the occasional tantrum over broken goggles. “I’ve definitely had those ‘forgetting-my-swimming-costume’ moments,” she laughs. But her key to staying motivated is simple: keep it fresh and fun. Whether it’s joining her triathlon club for training or trying a completely new event, keeping it fun and different is the secret to staying motivated and on track to reach your goals.

Advice for Aspiring Endurance Athletes

For anyone looking to follow in her footsteps (or strokes), Hattie has this advice:

Be patient. Results don’t come overnight, and the journey is as important as the destination.
Stop comparing. “Your journey is completely your own. Social media only shows the highlights,” she reminds us.
Find your community. Whether it’s a running club, a neighbor for early morning jogs, or an online network, accountability and camaraderie make all the difference.

What’s Next for Hattie?

In 2025, Hattie plans to tackle her first multi-day event, the Monster Triathlon. Admittedly it is as scary as it sounds, kicking off with a 5K swim in Loch Ness, followed by a 1,000-kilometer bike ride to Windsor, and wraps up with a casual 50K run to London(!). Her goals also include more open-water swimming, trail running, and maybe—just maybe—an even bigger endurance challenge. (Though definitely not swimming the English Channel: “No way am I swimming through jellyfish without a wetsuit!”)

Hattie Pearson’s journey is more than a personal triumph. It’s a testament to the power of showing up, saying yes, and proving that with the right mindset, anything is possible. Whether you’re tackling your first 5K or dreaming of an ultra-marathon, Hattie’s story is proof that the finish line is worth the hard miles. And when you cross it? You’ve won your race—medal or not. 🏅

‍

Make your own electrolyte drink

Why spend on expensive sports drinks when you can make a natural, hydrating electrolyte drink right at home? With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a refreshing blend packed with essential minerals and hydration-boosting properties. Perfect for fueling your workout or post-run recovery, this homemade option keeps it natural, affordable, and effective.

‍

Ingredients:

1 pinch of high-quality sea salt
Small piece of fresh ginger, peeled
500ml coconut water (e.g., Rebel Kitchen)
Juice of 1 lime
Fresh mint leaves

Instructions:

Prepare Salt & Ginger: Add a pinch of sea salt and the peeled ginger to a blender.
Add Coconut Water & Lime: Pour in the coconut water, squeeze in the lime juice, and add a few mint leaves.
Blend & Serve: Blend until smooth, pour into a glass, and garnish with extra mint. Enjoy your refreshing, hydrating drink!

‍

View all articles

More from

No items found.

View all articles

Inspiration. Delivered.

Sign up to receive personalised event recommendations, our monthly newsletter and the latest updates from the Let’s Do This community.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.