The morning of a race

Got (only) my second race this weekend and I was wondering how the more seasoned of you prepare for it.

For my first race (which started @ 10am) I did the following: -

6:30 Got up and had a bath

7:00 Made and ate porridge, had a cup of tea and started sipping water

7:30 Got changed into kit (apart from shoes)

8:15 Drove to event area and parked car

8:30 - 9:30 Ate a banana and kept sipping water while walking about, frequent loo trips etc

9:45 Got to start point at around to stretch etc

I actually had a water bottle while running (even though it was only 10K) because I didn't want to get thirsty but I'm planning not to do this this time - I want to run as light as possible (minus mp3 player as well!)

Comments

  • Nothing really different from any other morning really.
  • Sounds about right Wej image
  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    I get up, have breakfast, go off to event, race, go home (sometimes stop off for lunch on the way).

    I think you're over-thinking it.  It's just a run (with a load of other people) image

    (Oh, and I think you got there waaaaaay to early!)

  • I tend to get up, have a shower, see to my horse, walk my dogs, have breakfast & coffee, spend forever in the loo with nerves, go to the  race...spend forever in the loo with nerves.....
  • Wilkie wrote (see)

    I get up, have breakfast, go off to event, race, go home (sometimes stop off for lunch on the way).

    I think you're over-thinking it.  It's just a run (with a load of other people) image

    (Oh, and I think you got there waaaaaay to early!)

    Yup, as an old hippy once said "SIMPLIFY MAAAAAANNN"
  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    Good lord J!  If I did that, I'd be knackered for the race image

  • I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that about Jokers idea of warm up Wilkie...  I'd be knackered before I even started...

    Your timetable of events sounds fine Wej... Although as I'm a sleepy head I'd stay in my bed a bit longer personally and maybe forego the bath until I got back...  I usually shower & wash my hair the night before so all I've gotta do on race morning is get a quick wash to freshen up.  For a 10.00 race, i'd get up at 7.30 so I'd had my breakfast by 8 as I know any less than 2 hours and I'll end up with killer stitch.

  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    Yeah, just about!  I find the blood pumps quite well enough.

    image

  • Thought about my relay leg far too much last week and got nervous and cocked up - led to our team coming second..oops.

    So tomorrow I am going to take it easy......alot of people say the races you turn up late to and just do it are often your best performances!!

  • Unless you are late because you have a hangover
  • Well probably not turn up late on purpose then - just sometimes it's nice to just get there and do it, not worrying about it in advance.

    A routine is probably best though, agreed

  • Race morning is one time when I'm definitely glad I'm a bloke!  I'll drink well, up to an hour before the race, then maybe the odd sip if the mouth's a bit dry, but almost inevitably have to pee as close to the start time as possible.

    I'm with Jokerman on the warm-up.  If I'm not in a bit of a sweat on the start line I'm not warmed up enough.  For a 5k/10k, a good 15 mins run, starting as a light jog but builidng to a reasonable pace, followed by some dynamic stretching (mainly on the hamstrings because this is what feels especially tight if I start the race without stretching) followed by some strides, before hitting the start line. 

  • Maybe this is where I'm going wrong....... to me the first 2 miles of the race is the warm up.....image (ashamed to admit that this is regardless of distance - inc. 5K's image)

    Must try harder............

  • My race strategy is start slow and then back off. image  Seriously though, I'm not a fast runner by any stretch of the imagination so a little mooch over to the start line is more than enough of a warm up for me... and like Tigerlily says, by about 2 miles I've warmed up quite sufficiently to carry on at the same pace...
  • I tend to get up a little later - if I have plenty of time to kill I will dwell too much on worrying about the race outcome. Dont forget the night before too - having a good nights sleep and getting your kit etc all prepared the night before will ease your nerves on race day morning.

    Usually spend 25 - 30 mins warming up (inc some mobility exercises, gentle jog & stretching), especially if the weather is cold.

     Anyway, good luck for your 2nd race Wej.

  • If its a half or less I dont usually eat (I will if its an 11am start, but my body is slow at digesting and i just invite a stitch otherwise image)...

    For 5ks I run a 5k warm up broken into a slow 2.5k and a faster just sub race pace 2.5k

    For a 10k I'll do a few miles and then some nice strides, for a 10 miler or a half I'll do a mile or so gentle jog then warm up in the first mile  image

    Whats with all the showering when you are going to get sweaty?!? Not worrying about photos are we?

  • For races up to 10k in distance, I'll do a 2 mile warm up and 1 mile warm down and then about 10 - 15 minutes of stretching - it's essential.

    As for your 'morning of the race' routine, just do exactly the same as you would if it were a training run.  You could cut down on the water consumption though, as other posters have commented, it's only 10k so, unless it's really hot, you won't get dehydrated.

    Good luck with it!

  • Thanks for the replies people.

     I think what I was trying to get across (and failed miserably) was that there were lots of things that you probably do for your first race (because of nerves, lack of experience etc) that you wouldn't do from then on (such as getting up stupidly early, not warming up properly) and I wanted to get a feel for what other people did.

    I carried a water bottle with me last time as well - something I definitely won't be doing this time around!

  • Colonel Blimp wrote (see)

    For races up to 10k in distance, I'll do a 2 mile warm up and 1 mile warm down and then about 10 - 15 minutes of stretching - it's essential.

    As for your 'morning of the race' routine, just do exactly the same as you would if it were a training run.  You could cut down on the water consumption though, as other posters have commented, it's only 10k so, unless it's really hot, you won't get dehydrated.

    Good luck with it!

    essential for what?  I never do that much warming up!!
  • I always do a warm up - minimum of 20 mins jogging, maybe it's just cause I'm getting older and a bit creeky, but I find I race much more comfortably than if I just turn up and run.  That applies to my club sessions too - usually 20-25 mins warm up before a club run.

    Race day I get up early (nothing out of the ordinary), have a bowl of muesli, then make my way to the race giving myself time to arrive an hour before hand.  This mean that I can get parked without getting stressed looking for a parking space, time enough to do my warm up, nip to the loo, and socialise with the other runners.  I don't drink water before a race (or during if its 10k or less).

  • touie2touie2 ✭✭✭

    wake up and make cup of tea

    decide it's a good day for a race

    look on runners world for suitable races

    realise it starts in 40 mins

    throw on clothes grab a cereal bar and bottle of watrer and drive like a lunatic to race

    run from car and hope to make registration in time

    try to get breath back before gun fires image

     well that was this morning anyway normally i have time to have breakfast and go to the toilet 10 times before the start just in case image

  • I find a hot bath the morning of a race drains my legs so I never do that after a few lessons learnt.
  • I am running my 3rd 10k tomorrow 22/11 - its a late start at 1200 so I will be getting up at 0830 ish, have a quick shower - make a smoothie for breakfast - drink it -have loads of water and caffine-get running kit on - get into car -drive to race - try to go to loo - jog a bit - get round race - finish - look pleased with myself - pose for photos..

    I also dye my hair a bright colour a few days before the race!!!!

    happy racing

  • Two major differences for me. I don't take a bath or a shower on race morning - I just prefer how it feels to run without, and I'll be having a shower or bath afterwards anyway. Secondly arriving at 8:30 for a 10am start is too early for me, and I'm not someone who leaves it to the last minute. 9am would be the earliest I'd arrive, and I'll usually aim for around 9:15. Add those two together and I get at least another hour in bed.
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