Race Day Ready: Routines for Before, During, and After the Race
Even though I get out nearly every day to put in my miles, there’s just nothing quite like the excitement, the energy, and the fun of race day—of lining up at the starting line with a bunch of other walkers and runners and traveling through the streets in a big, happy, excited pack. And while I tend to hit the trail (or the neighborhood track…or the local mall) without a whole lot of preparation, I put a lot more effort into planning for race day.
Ever since my very first in-person 5k, I’ve understood the importance of planning ahead—and of race-day rituals—and, with each new race, I find that my preparation goes a little more smoothly. So here’s a look at the pre-race rituals that help me prepare for a fun race day.
RACE WEEK
Of course, depending on the type, location, and distance of the race, planning and preparing for a race can take weeks—or even months. But the final preparation for the event itself takes place in the days before the race. In those last days, you’ll need to attend packet pickup (which is when it all starts to feel real—and, if you’re like me, when the nervous-excited energy starts building). This is also when you’ll want to work out the final details—things like travel time, parking, and scheduling.
RACE-DAY EVE
For me, the event really begins about 15 hours or so before the race itself—with the last-minute preparation on the night before the race. This is when I make my final wardrobe decisions. Though I’ve most likely been obsessing about the weather for days, this is when I do one more check of weather conditions and figure out whether or not I need layers. I set everything out—possibly even trying everything on, just to make sure that it works. And, often, I get out my bib clips and clip on that bib, so I don’t have to worry about fumbling with it on race morning. I also set out any other gear that I plan on needing for the day—like waist packs and water bottles and my race day bag.
Once my wardrobe is out and neatly piled on the bathroom floor and my gear is waiting for me by the door, I might also set out my breakfast on the bathroom counter, so I can eat while getting ready. If I’m planning to drink a protein shake, I’ll put it in a thermal bag, so it’s nice and cold in the morning. Then I try to get to bed as early as possible—which isn’t easy, since I’m too excited. I always laugh about the time and effort and energy that I put into race day—especially when it’s a 5k, since that’s less than I walk on most mornings. But there’s just something about a race that makes everything different.
RACE MORNING
On race morning, I keep things simple. I’m not a morning person. At all. So I tend to sleep as late as possible. I get up and sip a little water while grabbing a quick breakfast—anything from a bowl of oatmeal to a protein shake—while I get ready. I wash my face to wake up, put on my selected clothes, and make about 28 bathroom stops. I fill up my water and grab my race gear. Then I lace up my chosen race day shoes and head out to go.
I usually carpool to the race with a friend. We head out to parking and then get to the starting line, where we take some time to stretch (and take a bunch of pictures) before we have to make our way to our corral—at the back of the pack, of course, with the rest of the walkers.
BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THE RACE
The start of a race is different for walkers. You’re ready to go. You’ve set up all of your favorite tracking apps. Maybe there’s some opening fanfare, like the National Anthem. And then the starting gun sounds, and…the runners leave. Maybe you take a few steps forward (and, if you’re a rookie, you start your tracking app, only to have to stop it…and restart it a few more times). So you hang out for a while, taking a few steps forward with the crowd from time to time…until it’s finally your time to start.
And then…it’s time to enjoy your 3.1 miles…or 6.2…or whatever the race may be. And how you handle it is up to you.
For some people, race day is just that: a race. They push themselves to get the best pace and the best time. For me…it’s a little different. While I don’t take my time—I still try to go at a brisk pace—I’m not there to compete. I’m a walker. I’m not going to win any prizes. And, honestly, I get usually better times on the trail on a random Thursday morning. Mostly, I’m there because it’s fun—especially if it’s a 5k. I’m not there for a challenge. I’m there to walk with my friends and celebrate all of the hard work…all of those morning walks…all of those miles. And that finisher medal—as well as the health benefits—are the reward for all of the mornings when it wasn’t quite so fun to get up and get moving.
And then, when my walking buddies and I cross the finish line, we get our medal and our snacks and take it all in. We celebrate together. We take selfies. And then we get in the car and head straight to Dunkin for our celebratory coffee and donuts. Because…obviously.
And, after we’ve recapped the whole experience over iced coffees, we start talking about our next race day. Because once one race is over, it’s time to start planning the next one.
Do you have your own race day traditions and rituals? Do you have special things that you need on race day? Tell us about them!
Are you the kind of person who likes to keep track of routines and race notes? You’ll want to pick up the digital download of my Race Planner Pack! You can find it in the Will Walk for Coffee Etsy shop at WillWalkForCoffee.Etsy.com
