Pre-race rituals. Superstitions. What ever you want to call it. We all have them. Those specific things we do come race day. Some people eat or drink special things. Others have a certain warm up routine. And still others have a lucky charm of one kind or another. Whatever they are, they make us feel prepared. They make us feel safe.
I don't know about you, but I am a creature of habit. I have a number of things I have like to do before a race. Maybe I am a little OCD, although my family would probably tell you I am a lot OCD. I have rituals. The following are my top 10 in no particular order.
**Sleep. I make sure I get a good night's sleep the two nights before the race. This really does make a huge difference! I also use GABA on those nights before the race.
**I Paint my toe nails. This is a must! Lately I have been including my girlie in this ritual...What girl doesn't like pretty toe nails?
**The day before the race I will eat a burger and fries. This is really the only time I eat fast food, and boy, does it taste good!
**A few days before the race I start gathering all the gear that I will need.
**Make sure my Garmin and ipod are charged.
**Brazilian...this doesn't always happen, but I like when it does!
**The night before the race I lay out everything I will need... I pin on my bib #, put my timing chip on my shoe, and just make sure everything is good to go.
**I always eat the same pre race breakfast: Strawberry or vanilla yogurt, a banana and water.
**I drink NoXplode...it's my morning wake me up...It also helps clean out the "pipes."
**Vitamin B-12 drops! I take this before, during and after the race! I realized a little over a year ago that I have a B-12 deficiency and this has really helped in my racing!
Well, there you have it, my pre-race rituals. What are your pre-race rituals?
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17 comments:
those are great rituals.
i love that u eat a burger and fries. i always want a cheeseburger and sweet potato fries after the race!
and i also like to pain my toenails. nobody will see it in my running shoes, but it makes me feel good!
i have to paint my finger nails before a race!
These are some really interesting rituals! Wow--I do just about nothing in comparison!
Ok.. I am very interested in GABA and that NOXPLODE ? stuff.... and
B-12... I must start this. Great excuse for the burger and fries.
Nice! good to know! I think I just set everything out the night before at this point. Ha.: )
I'll have to look into that NoXplode stuff. Imodium is part of my pre-race ritual. A lot of the other things are similar to mine =)
Thanks for the tip on GABA, I'll have to try that! I am not brave enough to get a Brazilian, I can barely stand a bikini wax!
So glad to find your blog!! I have definite pre-race rituals but yours are above it! I opt for a sugar free red bull for a kick!
My only "ritual" is crinkling up my race bib!
I. Love. This.
Great post.
I do the nail thing too. It's. A. Must.
love the burger and fries after the race! :)
so cute that you paint your nails before race! wish i MADE time! :)
Lately, I eat cereal bars before a long run/race and I usually end up eating a turkey sandwich the day before the marathon - not really planned - it just happens.
I agree with the good night's sleep, not just the night before but 2 days prior. I am more affected by the two day prior rest than the day before. I've never painted my toe nails, but I cut them before a big race. My biggest ritual is to cry myself to sleep while I ask myself why I didn't train more and prepare for the race.
I like to paint my nails too! It has to be a rad color like my current favorite: lime green. :) Also, I eat a sushi dinner or a big bowl of pasta the night before a race.
I eat the SAME thing for dinner the night before a race...and the night before that.
Pasta+spinach+tomato sauce.
I'm a toe nail painter as well....
I love this blog. Its hilarious and useful! Who knew about the brazilian....Well probably a lot of people, but to a first time marathoner, this got me thinking, ha! Also, the NOEXPLODE. Done.
I can safely say, I follow none of your rituals ... not even sleep.
But once I start running marathons ... no guarantees I won't copy a few
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