With the Kickoff to Kinnick 5K happening tomorrow and the Blogger Dash happening next month and several of our Medical Partners members participating, I thought it would be a great time to talk about getting pumped up and ready to go for race day. I should start off by saying that I am no expert in this matter! I started running after my second child was born (in 2010) as a way to get back into shape the cheap way and haven't been able to stop. Since I started running I have run at least a dozen 5Ks (that's 3.1 miles) and 10Ks (6.2 miles), a few odd mile length races (7-10 miles), 10 half marathons, and 1 full marathon (but I'm hoping to add to that number soon). By running all of those races I have come up with some things that I do to help me get ready to run.
Starting the night before, help yourself prepare by watching what you eat. For longer races its helps to eat carbs the night before. Carbohydrates give you energy and helps you not hit the wall while you're running. Typically, you only need to carbo-load for half marathons and full marathons. Instead of worrying about how many carbs you're consuming, focus on eating foods that aren't going to hurt your stomach and that aren't going to weigh you down the next day. The night before a race is definitely not the day to try a new recipe!
Starting the night before, help yourself prepare by watching what you eat. For longer races its helps to eat carbs the night before. Carbohydrates give you energy and helps you not hit the wall while you're running. Typically, you only need to carbo-load for half marathons and full marathons. Instead of worrying about how many carbs you're consuming, focus on eating foods that aren't going to hurt your stomach and that aren't going to weigh you down the next day. The night before a race is definitely not the day to try a new recipe!
Set out your outfit and race gear the night before. For the Kickoff to Kinnick that we have tomorrow I'm planning on wearing some Hawkeye gear. Go Hawkeyes! A typical race day outfit/gear would be running shorts, top, headband, socks, shoes, fully charged gps watch, fully charged ipod, and headphones. I know real exciting, but for those races that you have to wake up and get ready before the sun comes up, setting everything out makes life so much easier.
One last thing before you go to bed, make sure you are hydrated! You may have to pee a few extra times tonight but at least you will be well hydrated and feel good to go in the morning.
Get a good amount of sleep! Enough said.
Morning of race day! Time to get up and at 'em. For longer races it helps to use some sort of running lube to help you not get sores from friction. I love Mission Athletecare 5 Hour Anti-Chafe Cream and Body Glide Anti-Chafe stick (it looks like a stick of deodorant). Vaseline also works well.
#1 Rule of race day, NEVER WEAR ANYTHING NEW ON RACE DAY. Trust me, blisters, chafing, and injuries are not worth it!
Don't forget to hydrate and fuel before the race. My go to race day breakfast is a bowl of oatmeal. I know that it will give me enough energy to perform well but it won't fill me up to the point of being sick. Drinking water is important too. If you don't have enough water in your system, your muscles will cramp up. No Bueno!
Try to get to your race at least 30 minutes early (as long as you don't have to check in, if you have to check in the day of I would say get there an hour early). That gives you enough time to park, walk to the start line, and use the porta potty.
The most important part of race day is, HAVE FUN! For everyone running tomorrow, I will see you there. Now tell me, how do you prepare for a race?
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