The Race Cycle: From Registration to Race Day
For me, last weekend was Race Weekend—a super-exciting time for friends and fitness and celebrating all of the hard work we put into our regular walking routines. But I often find that the whole race cycle is pretty wild and crazy—filled with ups and downs, highs and lows. If you’ve never gone through it (or you have—and you can totally relate), here’s my look at The Race Cycle.
Registration Day:
It all starts on the day that you enter your credit card information and sign up for the race. It’s such a rush, right? As you sign up, you’re picturing your months of training walks—and how cool you’ll look on race day with all of your walking friends. The weather will be perfect, of course. The sun will be shining. You’ll feel great. You’ll enjoy every minute of the race, cheering on the people around you and probably making life-long friends in the process. And then, when you cross the finish line, you’ll get a cool medal. You’ll take a whole bunch of pictures (which, of course, will all turn out). And then you’ll enjoy the post-race party before heading home to your adoring family members—who will encourage you to put your feet up while they bring you snacks. And then you’ll get the post-race email with a link to all of the amazing pictures of you, which you will share and print out and frame to remember how awesome the event was.
The Months before Race Day:
The dream is wonderful…but then it ends up moved to a shelf in the back of your mind. On occasion, you get an email from the race organizers, which will once again remind you how exciting that day will be. You see pictures of the race swag, and you picture yourself wearing that shirt and medal. And each time you get one of those emails, it makes you text your walking friends, so you can meet up for a nice long walk.
Depending on the distance of the race, maybe you work through a training program. Or at least you try to work through a training program. Some weeks, you get those recommended miles. Some weeks, you might do some cross training. Some weeks, you’re so swept up in kids’ extra-curricular activities and just trying to survive that your weekly long walk is…not so long. Or maybe non-existent. But you’ve got this, right?
Two Weeks to Race Day:
This is when it suddenly hits you that race day is almost here. You get so excited that you get happy little butterflies in your stomach.
If this is a longer race—more than you’d normally walk—those excited butterflies might turn into anxious, freaked-out little butterflies. You might panic just a little bit. But then you give yourself a pep talk and go out for a walk, and you feel better. Stronger. Ready to take on the world.
You hope.
Also, right around now, you hurt yourself. Maybe you’re on a walk. Maybe you’re getting groceries or walking up the stairs…or maybe you just sleep wrong. Who even knows anymore, right? From my personal experience, though, it could be a dog attack or falling down on a dusty trail because you wore the wrong shoes.
Whatever the case, you suddenly find yourself in pain, maybe icing an ankle or your sore tailbone. Maybe your kid says the thing that’s been playing in your mind all day: “How much time do you have before your race, Mom?” And you freak out a little bit more. You don’t want to push yourself and make things even worse, but you’ve got a race coming—a very important, very exciting race day—and you have to figure out how to make it work.
One Week to Race Day:
The excitement really starts to set in now. You’re (hopefully) recovered from that freak accident, and you’re feeling good. You start talking about the race all the time. You step up your daily walks, so you’re ready for the big day.
Monday of Race Week:
This is when you start obsessing about weather forecasts. Remember that perfect day that you were dreaming about when you signed up for the race? Yeah…forget about that. The forecast is currently calling for record highs, record lows, thunderstorms, or maybe a blizzard. Whatever the case, odds are that it’s not pretty.
From here on out, you check the forecast several times a day (if not hourly) to see if the forecast has changed. Sometimes it does, and you feel so hopeful. Then, just when you’re feeling like the weather might just be good on race day, the forecast changes to look even worse than before.
Tuesday of Race Week:
By now, you’ve probably gotten your final email from the race organizers. All of those butterflies come flying back with a vengeance. As you read through the final details, you feel that anxious mix of excitement and nervousness and anticipation. Isn’t it the best feeling?
Packet Pickup:
(Be sure to check that weather forecast before you go!)
Whether it’s a quick stop at a local running store or a full expo, there’s just something about packet pickup day that gets you totally pumped for the main event. Not only are you getting your race swag, but you’re collecting all kinds of random ads and samples and things that come with it. (Full-size bottle of vitamin D? Free pizza? Bottles of energy drink? Hydration packets? Take them all!) You’re energized by the crowds and the smiling volunteers and the little racks of clothing and shoes and sunglasses that you just have to look through (and possibly buy) before leaving.
Don’t forget to take pictures and share them—so everyone knows you’ve got a race this weekend!
The Day Before:
The big day is almost here! Now’s the time to rest and prepare and maybe eat a nice, big pasta dinner (when else do you have the excuse to carb load with all-you-can-eat Olive Garden breadsticks??)
Also on today’s to-do list:
– Recheck the weather forecast
– Set out your wardrobe for race day
– Double check directions and parking information
– Recheck the weather forecast
– Try on your wardrobe and make changes
– Make sure your race-day bag is packed with all of the essentials
– Plan your morning, so you can sleep as late as possible
– Recheck the weather forecast
– Change your wardrobe
– Commit to your race-day wardrobe by getting your bib pinned to your shirt
– Take a sleeping pill or drink some sleepy-time tea and try to get to bed early
– Lie awake because you’re too excited to sleep
– Finally fall asleep around 3 hours after you went to bed
Race Day!
Now’s the time when all of your planning and preparation pays off! Once that alarm goes off, you’re up and ready to go! Your wardrobe is lying out for you, and though you were positive about it last night, you’re rethinking it now. Also, when you check the weather, you’re no longer quite so sure—so you pack a bunch of extra options to take along, just in case.
Once it’s time to leave, you head toward the starting location. No matter how well you’ve planned, it’s always chaos. Streets are closed. Traffic is backed up. And the parking garage is closed. You end up parking in some random place and crossing your fingers. Your anxiety is now climbing as you make your way to the starting line—which, of course, is absolutely buzzing.
This is it. You’ve been looking forward to this day for ages. You’ve been working and training and picturing yourself with the medal around your neck. There’s a DJ playing upbeat music and people doing random stretches and bouncing around you, and you’re ready to go.
During the Race:
It’s time to start! You start your workout on your watch and make your way forward, only to remember that you’re at the back of the pack, so it’s going to take another 10 minutes before you actually cross the starting line. So you reset your watch while taking selfies with your walking friends. You study everyone’s shirts and cute leggings and colorful shoes.
Then, finally, it’s time! Depending on the distance, you might be out here for a while. You might be rethinking your wardrobe choices. You might be hot or freezing or possibly soggy from rain. But you’re just excited to be here. Even after that first mile of weaving through race traffic, you’re excited to be here. Even when you spot that hill in the distance, you’re happy to be here. Right? You’re super happy. You’re having fun with your walking friends, and the miles are flying by. You don’t complain when you accidentally spill Gatorade down your shirt while trying to walk and drink at the same time. You smile and wave at volunteers and take pictures. And you definitely don’t say any bad words when another hill shows up in the distance. Even when you’re starting to hit the wall and rethink your choices, you carry on with a smile. Because you’re happy to be here.
After the Race:
When you cross that finish line, you smile for the race photographer (when you check later, you actually look like you’re grimacing—and like you’ve gained about 10 pounds during the race). You get your medal and take selfies with your friends. Then you enjoy whatever post-race party there is, being sure to grab as many samples and freebies that people are willing to give you.
When it’s all over, you’re sweaty, your hair is a mess, and your pictures look a little…wonky. But it’s been an awesome day.
You arrive home beaming with pride, eager to show your family your medal and tell them all about your day. They ask you what’s for lunch.
You feed them lunch and go to take a shower.
While you’re in the shower, you start feeling a little lost. You’ve been looking forward to race day for so long, but now it’s over. What will you do now?
Before you return to your family, you sign up for your next race, so you can do it all again.
