Five Tips That Will Have You Running Like Sue Larsen at Bastille Day

Sue Larsen knows running.

And when it comes to Bastille Day in Fenton, she has experienced as much success as anyone, if not more.

Last year, Larsen became the first woman to break the one-hour mark on the hilly course with a time of 59 minutes, 11 seconds. Larsen has won the Bastille Day Woman’s 5K four times, but ran the 15K for the first time in the annual event since 2003.

We recently talked to the running star, who is beginning training for the Chicago Marathon in October, and she shared her top five tips for racing on Bastille Day, which begins at 7:45 a.m. Saturday near the .

So follow Larsen’s instructions and you’ll be running as fast as her in no time.

Well, maybe not quite as fast ...

1. Don’t do anything too strenuous the day before the race. Just do a an easy run.

2. Make sure you don’t eat anything out of the ordinary. Eat your regular diet, make sure you are hydrating and eat something small that is carbohydrate-based with some protein before the race. Don’t run on an empty stomach. I’ve made that mistake before. But don’t have a buffet breakfast—you’ll end up paying for that.

3. Make sure to warm up before the race. Most people follow routine— jogging, stretching a little. You don’t want to go in a race cold.

4. Know the course and the weather. At Bastille Day, the course is hilly and the weather is always hot and humid (National Weather Service is forecasting sunny skies and high of 88). Be ready for that and adjust your goals accordingly.

5. When the race gets challenging, with obstacles like a big hill on Denton Hill Road, it can lurk in your mind. I just start looking at landmarks or signs and say “just get to this spot.” Break it up into little pieces and don’t panic. I am constantly playing that mental game when I am running.