windwalker
I need an Adventure
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2006
- Messages
- 6,477
Race Day Blunders
There are many things you can do to have a better race, but there are also some things you can do to avoid having a disaster. Preparing for a race, especially a destination race, is very important. With good planning you can keep from doing like I once did, arriving at an out of town race with everything but my race shoes.
Making a list is an excellent way to keep up with everything you will need for a race. That doesnt help a lot if you dont check each item on the list before you get ready to leave. What some of my racing friends do the night before is to make a flat runner. They lay out their entire race day attire, which includes shoes and race number pinned on the shirt. Then the morning of the race, its all ready to put on. Sometimes an athlete will take two pairs of shoes along, because they are undecided about which to wear on race day. I have seen it happen that they will put the race chip on one pair, and wear the other pair without switching out the chip again. That can take you out of the running for an age group award, if there isnt any record that you competed.
You should never race in something brand new that you have never worn in training. That can mean the difference between a wonderful fun event and many miles of chaffing. A good body lubrication can help with the normal chaff spots, but sometimes a new piece of attire can chaff somewhere you didnt plan for. I once bought a nice tech shirt at the Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo and decided to wear it the next day for the first part of the Goofy Challenge. Even though it was tech material, it had a stitched Disney World logo right across the front. The ends of the stitching chaffed the front and sides of my chest badly from my arm swing. Even with lots of lube, the next mornings marathon was very uncomfortable. Anything that feels too tight will feel even worse when your body swells from the heat you build up during the race.
Always check the race website for what sports drink will be served at the water stations. Use the sports drink during a few training sessions to ensure you can tolerate it, unless you have used it before. Many races will have food items, as well, on the course. Normally, they will have bananas, orange slices, pretzel rods or gels. If you are in a race and they have a gel or a food item you have never tried, save it for the last couple of miles. Then it probably wont matter, since you will be stopping before it hits your digestive system. I have done races that went through residential areas, and the people would be passing out everything from cold beer to fired chicken tenders. I have discovered that I can race walk after downing a cold beer, but the chicken wasnt a good plan.
What you eat the night before and the morning of the race is important. The evening before, stay with something you know you tolerate well, and above all, avoid hot spices or sauces on your food. Its a good idea for an athlete to know what they can eat before a race. Practice this while training. Through my own experience, I have learned that cereal with skim milk and a banana, eaten two hours before a race, works well. A big glass of water and a cup of coffee and Im ready to race. Some runners and walkers prefer a complex carbohydrate like a bagel with peanut butter on it. If you try some different things, you will come up with something that works well for you.
Do some planning and preparing. You can keep the unpleasant surprises to a minimum and have a super race experience.
Thanks for reading.
Dave
There are many things you can do to have a better race, but there are also some things you can do to avoid having a disaster. Preparing for a race, especially a destination race, is very important. With good planning you can keep from doing like I once did, arriving at an out of town race with everything but my race shoes.
Making a list is an excellent way to keep up with everything you will need for a race. That doesnt help a lot if you dont check each item on the list before you get ready to leave. What some of my racing friends do the night before is to make a flat runner. They lay out their entire race day attire, which includes shoes and race number pinned on the shirt. Then the morning of the race, its all ready to put on. Sometimes an athlete will take two pairs of shoes along, because they are undecided about which to wear on race day. I have seen it happen that they will put the race chip on one pair, and wear the other pair without switching out the chip again. That can take you out of the running for an age group award, if there isnt any record that you competed.
You should never race in something brand new that you have never worn in training. That can mean the difference between a wonderful fun event and many miles of chaffing. A good body lubrication can help with the normal chaff spots, but sometimes a new piece of attire can chaff somewhere you didnt plan for. I once bought a nice tech shirt at the Disney World Marathon Weekend Expo and decided to wear it the next day for the first part of the Goofy Challenge. Even though it was tech material, it had a stitched Disney World logo right across the front. The ends of the stitching chaffed the front and sides of my chest badly from my arm swing. Even with lots of lube, the next mornings marathon was very uncomfortable. Anything that feels too tight will feel even worse when your body swells from the heat you build up during the race.
Always check the race website for what sports drink will be served at the water stations. Use the sports drink during a few training sessions to ensure you can tolerate it, unless you have used it before. Many races will have food items, as well, on the course. Normally, they will have bananas, orange slices, pretzel rods or gels. If you are in a race and they have a gel or a food item you have never tried, save it for the last couple of miles. Then it probably wont matter, since you will be stopping before it hits your digestive system. I have done races that went through residential areas, and the people would be passing out everything from cold beer to fired chicken tenders. I have discovered that I can race walk after downing a cold beer, but the chicken wasnt a good plan.
What you eat the night before and the morning of the race is important. The evening before, stay with something you know you tolerate well, and above all, avoid hot spices or sauces on your food. Its a good idea for an athlete to know what they can eat before a race. Practice this while training. Through my own experience, I have learned that cereal with skim milk and a banana, eaten two hours before a race, works well. A big glass of water and a cup of coffee and Im ready to race. Some runners and walkers prefer a complex carbohydrate like a bagel with peanut butter on it. If you try some different things, you will come up with something that works well for you.
Do some planning and preparing. You can keep the unpleasant surprises to a minimum and have a super race experience.
Thanks for reading.
Dave
