Fall marathons are right around the corner! If you are running one - and a handful of you are - you'll want to have done everything you can to have your best day on race day. It's a very long way to run to have something go wrong.
You need to plan and test out what you think will work best for you so race day is as easy-peasy as it can be.
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Not only will you want to know what to do on race day, but you’ll also want to know what not to do on race day. I’d argue that knowing what not to do is as important as what to do.
In this post, I'm going to flip over the stones that will help lead you to your next marathon PR.
Even if you don’t plan on running a marathon any time soon, this post can still help you. You’ll want to be your best on race day - and just because this is a “marathon post” - doesn’t mean you can’t take something from this post.
Knowing what works for you and what doesn't is the name of the game.
Fresh Legs 🦵
Just how fresh do you need your legs to be to still race well? A two-week taper or a three-week taper? You’ll need to know from practice just how fresh you need to be. While some runners may benefit from higher mileage for longer, others will seek out that extra week of rest.
Race Nutrition 🫗
Dial in your race day nutrition.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to try the food and drink you plan on using during race day while you’re training. If you haven’t tried a specific gel in training, you risk ruining your entire race.
Practice with the flavors and brands that you plan on using during the race while on long runs and workouts, so you have an idea how your body will respond.
Race Day Gear 👕
Sure, you want to look good on race day. Who doesn’t?
But you also want to make sure that the gear you choose is not going to chafe or ride up your bum on race day either.
Wear that gear in rain, on cold days, hot days, and every other type of day so you can find the perfect race day gear that will hold up in any condition.
Shoe Dog 👟
You don’t want your shoes to be dead, and you don’t want them to be brand new either.
Dead shoes won’t offer you the cushion or support you are looking for on race day, and brand new shoes might give you a blister (if they rub).
1 month prior to the race day is a good time to start trying out your race day shoe. And when in doubt, replace your current shoe in enough time to make sure the new one works for you.
Pre-Race Meal 🍽️
What works for you so you feel satisfied, but not so full that you need to poop on the run?
Food is tricky to talk about because what works for me might not work for you. This is why practice and trial and error are your best friends.
Race Strategy 💡
Use common sense, talk to your coach or mentor about the best way to cover the race distance. Know what you are capable of running based on science, workouts, and history.
Warmup Routine 📜
Your warmup is the bridge between not running and running fast. You NEED to have a warmup routine. You can find mine here.
Pre-Race Mileage 💫
Some bigger-mileage runners will run a lot more miles the day before their race than most, while others may need 20 minutes super easy. Pre-race day mileage is very unique to the individual, and that’s something you need to practice.
As the saying goes: “the hay is in the barn” - so you need to do what is right for you.
You need to have a plan for your racing - whether it’s your peak race or not. The points above will help get you to your start line firing on all cylinders.
Be smart with your training and take into account everything you can, and your race will go well.
Racing is more than showing up. Plan for what will go right, but also what will go wrong.
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