Race Day Preparation

I’ve been asked before about my pre-race routine; the rituals so carefully executed to ensure that the race goes off without a hitch.  I do have my own routine, likely similar to other weekend warriors who are out to prove something to themselves.

I tend to get obsessive during my pre-race routine, checking not once, not twice, but over and over again to make sure that I have everything I’ll need for the race plus a back up of everything plus articles of clothing to account for every weather scenario possible (which in Iowa means many different scenarios).

However, inevitably, no matter how much planning you do, every now and then something happens that no amount of preparation could control.  One of my favorite quotes from Of Mice and Men goes something like “The best laid schemes of mice and men often go astray, leaving pain and sorrow instead of promised joy.”  Well, every now and then, that’s true in a race.  But, more often than not, careful planning and preparation help keep a racer calm, relaxed and focused on the mission.

Here a few of my key pre-race and race day preparations.

1.  Don’t try anything new just prior to or on race day.  Trying a new race food could result in an upset stomach and a race cut short.  Wearing new shoes could cause unnecessary blistering or they may simply not fit right leaving you the option of stopping or walking on your hands the rest of the race.  Stick with what you know works.  Save trying out new things for a time early in the training schedule.

2.  Do a trial run, in my head.  I like to envision myself at the starting line and verify I have everything ready to go to match that vision.  For example, I pre-pin my number to my shirt the night before.  I don’t want to run around race morning trying to find pins or something.  I set out all of my gear the night before so I know right where it is.  Usually I want to sleep in as long as I can (a lot of races have an early start) and not worry about running around finding a watch or water bottle.

3.  Pack options.  I’m incredibly uncomfortable and unhappy when I’m cold.  That can be a challenge when many races start just before or at sunrise and warm up quickly.  Many races allow racers to drop off a gear bag just prior to race start.  Thus, you can wear a warm up jacket or pants and then peel layers off before the race.  Sometimes I’ll make a last minute decision on what to wear if the weather is much different than what I was expecting.  I wouldn’t be able to do that if I didn’t pack a few extra items.

4.  Move well, eat well, sleep well.  I like to do light activity the day before a race, to help keep me relaxed and make sure everything feels like it’s working right.   I plan a balanced meal so that I get the right nutrients before race day.  My favorite pre-race meal is salmon and sweet potato fries.  I get to sleep at a reasonable time so that I’m well rested for race day.

5.  Get to the start line early.  It never fails; race day preparation always takes longer than I expect.  The pre-race line for the bathroom is a mile long, the bus drops you off at the wrong location and you have to hoof it to the start line (yes, that has happened to me) or a sudden flat tire means needing a few extra minutes to fix it.  While no one wants to stand around forever waiting for the race start, I’d rather have to stand around a few extra minutes because I was prepared, than miss the actual start of the race.

6.  Know that there will be a few race day nerves.  No matter how well I’ve prepared training for the event or prepared equipment before the race, I always show up a little nervous.  I think that it ends up helping push me harder because I want to prove I can do it (even if I’ve done the event before).  To prepare, I just focus on breathing and trying to use positive reinforcement.  I know I’ve prepared so I know I can do it.  I also give myself permission to not complete the race, should an issue arise, and not feel mad or guilty about it.

7.  Celebrate!  As soon as I cross the start line, I’m already excited about making it to this point.  It’s even better when I cross the finish line.  I celebrate the fact I am fortunate enough to be physically able to participate and that I accomplished something for myself.

Racing, in my opinion, is such a fun experience!  It takes a lot of hard work to plan and execute an event (thank you race directors and volunteers!) and it takes a lot of hard work to train for and compete in one.  A part of that experience is pre-race and race day preparation – don’t skip it, embrace it!

How do you prepare for a race?  How do you handle race day jitters?  Feel free to share your experiences!

Miss FitGab