It’s time for Friday Five linkup with DC area bloggers Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed Up for What?!, and Mar at Mar on the Run!
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My five race rituals are a combination of things to help make my race morning go as easily as possible. Nothing superstitious here, just a routine to make my life easier.
1. Whenever possible, I pick up my race packet the day before the race. I like having my race bib at home ready to pin on my shirt, and I like not having to worry about the added stress of packet pick-up on race morning.
3. The night before the race Bill and I lay out all of our gear, and pack what we can in the car. We finalize our parking plans and make arrangements with anyone that might be car pooling with us. Recently, I have started taking a picture of my flat runner to post on Instagram and our MRTT Facebook page.
4. Race morning, we try to get there about an hour before the race to get in the porta potty line, meet any friends or fellow running bloggers that we’ve coordinated with, and take our obligatory multi-chapter MRTT picture. If it’s a shorter race, I try to squeeze in time to go out and run a warm-up mile or so.
5. Just before the race, I make sure to shut down all of my phone apps and open up RunKeeper and get it ready to go before slipping my phone back into my SPIbelt. Next, I seed myself according to the pace I plan to run, relax, and enjoy the energy of the crowd around me. Once the race starts, there’s no ritual – it’s game on!
Hope you’ve gotten a new idea or two from my rituals. Happy racing!
- Questions:
- What are your race rituals?
- What are your fan rituals before your favorite team’s game?
- Who’s racing this weekend?
Sweet potatoes is a great idea. I may have to that next time.
Lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…Fall Style Guide FAIL
Here’s my sweet potato fries recipe:
Wash and slice the sweet potatoes in steak fry sized spears, leaving the peelings on.
Lightly toss the spears in a little olive oil, sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and either fresh or dried thyme.
Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 450° for 25 minutes.
Enjoy!
So similar! I always pick up my packet as early as possible. Not sure I could eat salmon the night before the race (glad it works for you) or sweet potatoes (no matter how much I love them and eat them the rest of the time). Steamed chicken and veggies for me! Same meal – to the extent I can make it be so – before every race and long run. Happy Friday!
M @readeatwriterun.com recently posted…Friday Five – Race Day Rituals
We used to have pasta every Friday evening before our long runs and the night before races, but realized I was having trouble digesting it and getting it through my system (if you know what I mean). At a seminar I attended, Bart Yasso hilariously questioned how some runners carbo-load the night before a race, by eating way too much pasta. He went on to say that he suspected these same runners would be “un-carbo-loading in the bushes at the race the next day.”
One night we had salmon, a salad, and roasted sweet potatoes and I felt great during my run, so it became our staple.
I’ve never had salmon the night before – I should give that a try! That is smart to pack your car ahead of time. Sometimes I forget my headphones… of course I forgot to list that on my five in “gadgets” 😛
Jennifer recently posted…Friday Five – Race Rituals
I almost forgot my race bib once!
Bananas and bagels for me too. I always look forward to the group pic with MRTT too
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Friday 5 Crazy Race Day Rituals
I forgot to mention that I always add a very thin layer of peanut or almond butter to my toasted bagel half! Yum!
I was supposed to race this weekend at the 9/11 Memorial 5K in Arlington but the chiropractor ordered no running for me this weekend. Not sure if I will go still and just walk? But don’t really want to walk alone 🙁
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Friday Five: Pre-race rituals
Oh, Sue… I’m so sorry to hear that. Hope you recover quickly and can get back out on the running trail.
Salmon, salad and sweet potatoes sound like the perfect pre-race dinner
Keren recently posted…Feet and Shoes, Shoes and Feet
It’s just the right balance of nutrients to make me feel great on race morning, and it’s delicious! In fact all of this talk about salmon, salad, and sweet potato fries makes me think I need to make that for dinner tonight! 🙂
Sounds like my “rituals”! I’m all about the pick-up the day before if it’s available. I hate worrying about picking it up the morning of, worrying if something went wrong with registration.
Have a great weekend!
Courtney @ Don’t Blink. Just Run. recently posted…Face The Music Friday #50
Yep! We showed up for a small marathon and there had been a glitch and they didn’t have us registered. We had to spend about 20 minutes getting that taken care of instead of focusing on getting ready for our race. Plus it was a great shirt that I would have worn a lot, but they were out of smalls, so I was given a large. 🙁
Great list. I think I may try and add the flat pic to my pre-race rituals. I always enjoy seeing those.
John @ run. geek. run(disney) recently posted…Five Race Day Rituals | Friday Five
And if you’re meeting up with friends, they know what color shirt and shorts to look for you in!
Sweet potatoes – excellent choice! I can’t believe how many bananas I’m seeing in everyone race day rituals! love it!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus recently posted…Five Race Day Rituals
I know! It’s awesome!
i usually like to pick up my packet the day before as well — unless it’s a race like leesburg that is an hour away. however, that does make race day way less stressful!
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC recently posted…Friday Five: Race Day Rituals
Agreed. If the race is far away, I’m willing at arrive a little early to pick up my packet on race morning (if it’s offered).
i love the ritual of stopping at the running store for gu. we’ve been doing that most friday nights recently and it’s always fun to see folks from the local running community and talk shop. sometimes talking about the next morning’s run can almost make me a little excited about the distance when i describe it within the conversation of the race i’m training for.
kristin recently posted…LONG RUN: THE SPACE BETWEEN
So cool that shopping for running fuel has become a social event for you!
I love bananas and bagels for a pre-race breakfast. It’s the perfect fuel for me and my tummy.
Haley @ Running with diapers recently posted…Friday Five – Race Day Rituals
If my tummy is happy, I’m happy! 🙂
Those are great rituals! I wish I could always have my race bib the night before! Makes life so much less stressful on race day. I do it when I can!
Love the group pic!
Esther recently posted…Five Things Friday Link-up: Race Day Rituals
I agree! Sometimes it’s just too far to drive to the day before, but I do it anytime it’s feasible.
mmm, that pre-race dinner sounds fabulous! I can’t do salad before a long run so settle on pasta or rice, very low key but it works!
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Friday Five: Racing Rituals
I have a lot of running friends that can’t handle the fiber in salads the night before a race, so I consider myself very lucky.
I love that you eat salmon for a pre-race dinner. I’m still trying to figure out my preferred pre-race dinner/meal!
Cynthia @ You Signed Up For WHAT?! recently posted…6 Tips for Going from Workout to Work! #CarefreeChallenge
It took me a long time to figure it out, but since it works, I’m sticking with it. My husband misses the pasta, though.
I always eat a 6″ ham or turkey Subway sandwich for lunch the day before a race. If possible, I like to pick up my race stuff the day before a race as well. Then, like you, I like to arrive at least an hour prior to the start. I love running races multiple years in a row, because I know how things work and what the logistics are which makes race morning a lot easier/less stressful. I like your pre-race dinner of salmon and sweet potatoes! Right now I still stick with pasta 🙂
Meagan recently posted…Ragnar Relay Leg 1 – Race Recap
How about a Sheetz sub before your race? 🙂 Did you get tired of seeing me eat sweet potato fries all weekend before each of my Ragnar legs? 🙂