It's one of those times again! There is one big conference hosted by AWS that I always look forward to. Yep, I'm talking about AWS Re:Invent.
Every year, I'm excited to see what new services, tools, and announcements AWS has in store.
Out of curiosity, I did some research and discovered that the conference started back in 2012. That took me back to 2018, when I was just getting started with cloud computing. Fast forward to today, 14 years since the first one, and the conference is still going strong.
I attended for the first time last year, and it was an incredible experience!
Being surrounded by thousands of people, all sharing the same excitement, ambition, and curiosity about technology, was something else. I have to admit, I felt a little overwhelmed at first, but in the best possible way.
There was so much to see, learn, and explore. After experiencing it firsthand, I learned that attending is one thing, but preparing for it beforehand is another.
So, if you are planning to attend AWS Re:Invent for the first time, or even if you've been before, I'd love to share a few things I learned from my experience to help you prepare and make the most of your time there.
Along with all the excitement about attending sessions, workshops, and exploring what's new, I have one more thing on my agenda.
I am excited about something I've been planning for a while. I have one mission: run a 5K.
It's happening on Wednesday at 6 AM. Yes, you read that right. I'm swapping my usual conference morning routine for a 5K race!
I'm pretty excited, and it's definitely one of the things I'm looking forward to most.
I went ahead and created a training plan, of course, using ChatGPT. I set an ambitious goal: run a 5K in 30 minutes. I even wanted to run every day. Sounds ambitious, but I thought it was possible!
My training plan included easy runs, tempo runs to improve speed, and long runs to build endurance. I ended up running three times a week, adding strength training and taking only one rest day per week.
A month went by, and I felt great. I'd run during my lunch break or in the evening. I kept tracking my time and pace. Always looking for ways to improve.
But then I started noticing something wasn't quite right. My body was getting tired, and I was not giving it enough time to recover. I was pushing myself too hard and had not accounted for how much recovery my body actually needed.
I started reflecting on what I was doing wrong. My body was telling me something, and I needed to listen.
I stopped running completely for two weeks. Instead, I started doing yoga and gentle stretching. I also stopped lifting weights for a while. I wanted to be gentle to my body. I also spent time in the sauna and hot tub to relax and unwind.
Looking back, I realized I had overlooked a few things. I was not warming up before my runs or cooling down afterward. I was not stretching either. I had been so focused on running faster, and I forgot about taking care of my body along the way.
As of today, I feel that taking a step back was the right decision.
Now, I'm planning my training again, this time with a more balanced approach and the time I have left before race day.
My new plan includes two running days, one strength training day, two swimming days, and two rest days each week. I want to focus on quality rather than simply doing more.
There are a few things I am paying more attention to this time.
- Warm up before running. A dynamic warm-up is important to prepare my muscles and joints before hitting the run.
- Paying attention to my running form. Engage my core, maintain a comfortable stride, and be mindful of how my feet land. I also want to improve my balance and lower body strength because running involves repeatedly supporting my body on one leg at a time.
- Make strength training count. Focus on strengthening my lower body and improving stability and balance.
- Add swimming. It's a great way to get more low-impact, full-body exercise while giving my legs a break from running.
- Fuel my body properly. Make sure I'm eating enough, especially getting enough carbohydrates and protein to support my training.
- Get enough sleep. Recovery doesn't happen only at the gym or on the running trail. I had a great run, as always, after getting good sleep last night, so a good night's sleep matters too.
- Stay hydrated. Drink enough water and consider electrolytes(coconut water) when needed, especially after longer or sweatier workouts.
If you've made it this far, I hope you've found something useful in my little training journey.
But most importantly, don't forget to listen to your body. It's easy to get caught up in chasing a goal and forget that recovery or rest is just as important as training.
And if you are running the 5K at AWS Re:Invent, I'll see you at the starting line. Come say hi!
See ya!
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