8 Tips for a Better Race Week Experience
18 Oct
It’s ironic, the reason I’m struggling to write this post is because I haven’t yet done what I’m going to tell you to do. It’s race week for me– the perfect time to walk you through my foolproof plan to reduce stress in the days leading up to and through the race. Think you’re ready for your race?
I’m insane.
At least seasonally. Race-seasonally-insane. It’s the perfect storm of delirium: I am all hyped up because I love racing and I can’t run off all that extra energy because I have to save it for the race. You should get to run MORE before a race, not less. It’s a terrible thing, the waiting.
So what to do now that time has slowed down?
Time to Go Hammy
There are several movies out there in which they give an already hyperactive forrest critter a soda or a coffee and depict what happens as they go bezerk. My favorite is Hammy the squirrel in “Over the Hedge.”
Right now I’m Hammy. My pulse is hovering around 300. (all the sketchy sources on the web agreed that this was the typical heart rate of a squirrel). Someone at the YMCA filed a complaint because I was gnawing on their shin yesterday. I filled our home with carbohydrate rich acorns in two days. I don’t know what else to do with myself besides sit in our maple tree, chittering angrily at pedestrians below.
Okay, it’s not that bad, but it’s close. If you’re anything like me (and I hope for your sake you’re not) you need SOMETHING to do race week. I’ve got just the thing. This post is going to be chalk full of nuts… I mean TIPS for how to survive race week and make sure you’re ready for your event.
The Race-Ready Checklist
You can’t plan for every possible scenario and you shouldn’t try, but that doesn’t mean that you go into race weekend without a solid plan. I’ll help you get there. Consider this your pre-checklist, checklist. Your stress level is 10 minutes away from dropping considerably.
#1, Read the Event Website
Read it. Memorize it. Have it tattooed on your forearms. This is the golden rule of racing. You can’t claim ignorance if the information was readily available. Start here. If you have a question, before you pepper the event staff with emails and phone calls, check out the “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs) tab on most websites.
#2, Know Where to Park
Have a plan and a backup plan if that is full. Usually this information is readily available on, you guessed it, the event’s website. Plan to get to the race plenty early so that finding a parking spot does not contribute to your stress. This leads me to the next item…
#3, Get There Early
How early is up to you. I like getting to the line 30-45 minutes before start. Sound excessive? Then you’ve never stood in line for a porta potty 10 minutes before the start of a race.
Be realistic about how long things take you. Don’t try to save time in morning so you can sleep in as long as possible. I’m getting up at 4:30am for the Fall 50 on Saturday. My shuttle leaves at 5:30am right outside my hotel. That gives me probably 40 minutes to get dressed, gather my things, eat breakfast, drink coffee and rush down to the lobby. Okay never mind, I’m getting up at 4am.
Personally I sleep better knowing that I won’t have to rush and possibly miss the starting gun.
#4, Who Am I Kidding? Who Sleeps Anyway??
Therefore it matters even less how early you get up. The best advice I got before my first marathon said, “You probably won’t sleep much the night before your first marathon. Don’t sweat it. It won’t matter. It’s being rested in the few weeks before the race that count.”
Lo and behold it was spot on. I slept terribly. I trusted the advice though. It turned what could have been a frustrating, negative night into a night that I spent just basking in the excitement of my upcoming race. After I accepted the fact that I wouldn’t sleep, ironically I dosed off for a few hours. The energy of the race will overcome any lack of sleep you experience.
#5, Plan Meals in Advance
Where are you going to get your “feed” on? Is there a pasta feed anywhere the night before? What’s for breakfast? Especially if you have to travel for the race, don’t leave these questions to chance or you may step afoul of my next critical rule:
Don’t eat anything new!!!
Eat what you’ve trained with. Eat foods you know are gentle on your stomach. On the race don’t try a new bar or gel that they offer you on the course. Know what they hand you and train with it beforehand if you plan to accept it on the course, or carry your own nutrition.
Your stomach is bound to be a little sensitive on race day due to nerves. Don’t throw it any curve-balls.
Lastly in this category, know where the water-stops and aid stations are. Decide based on your own needs if you’ll need to carry water or nutrition between them. There are a variety of water-bottle belts and handheld water-bottles that serve this purpose well. I own a shameful number of them. In future posts I’ll help you decide which ones are best for you.
#6, Check Weather Reports… Often
Dress for the weather. Try to train in a variety of weather conditions so that you’re ready and you know what clothing works best for each.
Don’t let inclement weather ruin your race experience. Plan as best you can for it and enjoy yourself in spite of it. It’s part of the challenge and accomplishment of finishing a race. Epic hailstorms are the stuff of running legend. You’ll have a story to tell your ridiculously bored and uncomfortable grandkids one day.
#7, Create a Gear Checklist
Charge your iPod. Plastic baggies to save said iPod from the rain. Gu, visor, tights, coat, gps watch, change of shoes, socks, rice cakes, favorite shirt, water-bottles…
…oh, sorry, you’re still here. Guess this one got me thinking about my own race.
Something new for this race since I’m traveling far enough to need a hotel the night before is that I’m going to pack a bag that contains all the things I need during the race itself and nothing else. I’ll check it off the list as I pack the bag and then it’s out of my head and not stressing me out as I gather my stuff in the pre-dawn darkness. In the past I’ve laid my stuff out on a chair the night before. I suppose this works equally well. I’m just planning farther in advance this time.
#8, Set Two Alarms
Okay this one is only for paranoid people like me. I used to try to talk myself out of this one and that I was being a little too irrational, but I’ve since stopped. It helps me relax and sleep… if I can. So I set my regular alarm and my cell phone. Call me crazy.
Now Here’s What You Don’t Want to Hear
Even with all the preparation and preplanning in the world, stuff happens. The truth is we aren’t in control of our lives. Do your best to be ready, but don’t fret the small stuff. Even though I feel like these kinds of adventures are important for me for so many reasons, it’s still just a race. There are much more important things in life. If there aren’t for you then we need to talk. 
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