Happy Tuesday! Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics. This week is all about your pre-race routine. Do you eat certain foods? Do a flat runner? Sing? Dance? Pray? We want to hear all about what puts you at ease before you cross that finish line.
This week’s Tuesday Topic: What is your pre-race routine? You can write about this topic, or feel free to post any running related blog post. Remember to Link-up with Kim and Zenaida and the bottom of this post!
I actually don’t have a “set in stone” pre-race routine. I find that I have to adjust for certain things depending on the weather, time of year, if it’s local or a racecation, etc. Although there are certain variations, there are a few things that I do consistently to prepare for race day.
Race Week
You can find me stalking the weather starting the Monday of any race week. Yes, I know that’s a bit early because things can chance constantly, but I feel that it gives me a good indication of what I might be dealing with on race day – extreme heat, bitter cold, rain, snow, etc.
I also become more aware of my hydration as well. I’m pretty good at drinking water but I really pay attention to it during race week. It’s usually the only thing I’ll drink that week, besides coffee and tea (usually no alcohol).
Night Before the Race
This is something relatively new but it seems to work – eating my carb heavy meal for lunch vs. dinner. Eating it earlier in the day gives my body more time to digest which I think has helped with some of the race day stomach issues I had last year. Also it can be easy to overload on the carbs at night and then feel very sluggish during the race.
I don’t always post a flat runner but I do lay out all of my clothes the night before a race (including my running fuel as well). It just makes it easier to get dressed in the morning if everything is already laid out, and it’s less likely that I will forget something.
Race Morning
This is where things get a little tricky. I actually don’t have a “go-to” breakfast. In fact, I rarely eat before a race – it really depends on how much stomach feels when I wake up that morning. In the off chance I can eat, it’s usually half a bagel or a piece of dry toast and water. I know I need to give this more thought, especially with the Chicago Marathon fast approaching!
Tell me: What is your pre-race routine?
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You only start weather stalking on Monday, LOL? Of course i’m usually traveling, often a week in advance, so that’s why I need options. Cause it can do a 180 in a week (even in a day, sadly).
I like to try to eat early the night before, for digestion purposes, but if i’m with other people that can be hard. My digestion is usually pretty good, which is why I ALWAYS have breakfast — unfortunately it also usually means getting up really early cause I also need preferably 2 hours to digest it. Sometimes 90 minutes, depending on race start time, but it takes me that long to get ready anyway, LOL!
I used to check the weather earlier but it started to drive me nuts so now I just start the Monday of race week LOL.
I don’t stress too much about food anymore–either the night before or the morning of the race. It doesn’t seem to matter what I eat! Now the weather…
Haha oh yes the weather! If only we could have Fall weather all year long – dry and cool.
I didn’t mention weather-stalking, but I’m guilty…starting on Monday, or even earlier. It’s kind of like a bad car accident…I can’t help looking and and re-looking LOL
Right?! I actually used to start weather stalking 2 weeks out from race day but it was driving me nuts so now I just start on Monday of race week.
Our pre-race rituals are similar minus the breakfast – I always have a “bar” of some sort and a banana!
I should try a breakfast bar. I just worry about eating too much and then having it sloshing around in my tummy during the run.
I do stalk the weather and it always gives me stress! I normally eat toast with peanut butter before a race works well for me. I don’t do well running on empty!
Yes! It’s so stressful but yet I continue to do it, lol.
I prepare all my stuff the evening before the race and I eat many carbohydrates.
The morning of the race I eat the usual breakfast and I plan everything in order to arrive at the parking on time to do things with no haste.
So smart to prepare all the stuff the evening before – less stuff to worry about the morning of the race!
I have to have tuna pasta the night before (although this has changed from bean pasta, mainly because then I can get my husband to cook it, bwah hah ha – and we can eat together the same meal). Same breakfast too (shreddies and oats) and this means I always get an apartment if I’m racing away from home so I can cater for myself. Flat lay so I find out what I’ve forgotten!!
That’s so smart to book an apartment when you’re doing a race away from home. I always just book a hotel so options are definitely limited lol
Maybe you should try a banana. They’re pretty safe. Sometimes I only eat half but it’s better than nothing.
I read somewhere about not overdoing it on carbs the night before. I guess you figured that out on your own. 😉
I tried a banana a few times last year but it messed with my tummy for some reason (maybe because it’s fruit?). I also tried oatmeal and that was a hard NO, lol (emergency bathroom stop after mile 1 lol).
I start hydrating like crazy on Monday or Tuesday. Especially if it’s a super long race. If it’s shorter then I don’t care quite as much. I also fiber load on Monday, Tues, Wed. Thursday and Friday are more carbs. Friday is almost completely carbs.
That’s really interesting about fiber loading earlier in the week. I will need to try that out too!
I’m big on the weather stalking too! I know things can change at the last minute and have had that happen for a race, but I feel like I can be better prepared keeping an eye on the weather. That’s a good idea about having the big meal for lunch the day before instead of dinner.
Yes, especially when traveling for races. I have learned (the hard way) to bring a few different race day options due to wacky weather.
I like to do a flat runner because it helps me make sure that I have everything together. I try to eat food that I’m used to both the night before and morning of the race.
Totally agree! Even if I don’t have a flat runner, I take out everything that I need the night before the race and it always helps me not to miss anything too important.
I posted my actual morning out in my post today, but prior to that, I like to get my hydrate on. I really liked your idea about carb-loading for lunch. That’s a solid idea there! I think you should definitely practice eating prior to your long runs so that you are confident you’ll have enough fuel in you for Chicago.
I’m going to start practicing eating breakfast before my long runs starting this week. I have 8 weeks before Chicago to get it right!
Oh, yes. I am a weather stalker too. I don’t really have a lot of pre-race routines. I am more unorganized and scatterbrained. I try new stuff all the time. I should find something that works and stick with it!
I think it’s good that you actually don’t have a routine! It means you’re more adaptable to any race day scenarios which is good!
You sound like me when it comes to pre-race (when I am able). The main thing I do is lay everything out! I am not a morning person, so I make sure I am all set the night before. Some of the wake up times for races are SOO early! Haha
Right?! I’m a morning person but some of those early wake up times are even too early for me, lol.
You and I are very similar. I love that weather stalking meme
One of the things I’m trying to figure out is “breakfast” as I move into long runs. I have literally never been a breakfast eater – my old go-to of a breakfast bar has worked through 14, although last week was a bit of an issue as I didn’t have a proper dinner. I can’t eat heavy the night before. Avocado toast is my go-to before a Half, but I’m not sure about longer yet.
When I forget something it’s 99% because I didn’t put it with my flat me
Seems like you and I are in the same boat when it comes to breakfast. I’m going to try to eat something this Saturday before my long run and hope for the best lol.
It makes a lot of sense to make lunch the carb-heavy meal! Pre-race I usually do toast with peanut butter and honey. PB has always worked well for me as something calorie-dense but easy on my stomach.
I think I will start experimenting with toast and honey or PB, especially now that all my long runs are double digit miles.
It’s hard to stalk the weather too much in Florida – it feels like it’s always changing. And it’s always hot. Always. hot.
I struggle with pre-race breakfast too. I don’t like eating too much before hand but if I don’t eat something my stomach starts growling like a wounded monster. Ew.
You’re so right – Florida has some of the most unpredictable weather!
I find the pre-race meal hard to decide on. I’ve got certain restrictions, but other than that I feel my body reacts differently to foods every day. In the end, it’s best to just do what you normally do, eat what you normally eat and enjoy the day!
That’s very true. This past weekend I tried a piece of wheat bread with a little peanut butter and it worked pretty well.