10 Ways to Avoid Those Race Day Hiccups
You’ve trained hard for the big day, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible. Some things are out of your control; the weather, the traffic, but with planning and foresight you can avoid the most common race day hiccups.
Here at Running 4 Women we know from experience how the smallest problems can affect your whole race, that’s why we have prepared this 10 point plan to make sure you get the very best from all your hard work.
Get up early: Give yourself plenty of time for an early breakfast and a leisurely journey to the start. It is important that you read the instructions sent to you by the race organiser.
Get hydrated: Drink a pint of water as soon as you get up and continue to keep your fluid levels topped up.
Do not use new shoes or kit: You may have bought a bargain but now is not the time to find out that it chafes or gives you blisters.
At the start line up ensure that you are positioned amongst runners of similar ability. Most races have timing boards placed at intervals along the start. These are your estimated finishing times. So please don’t think that it would be better to get to the front. This simply means that you will start far too fast and finish in pieces!
When the gun goes off be conservative. Better to run a gentler first half and feel good towards the finish than go hell for leather and feel exhausted before you reach halfway. A controlled first half also means you start to pass tiring runners later which gives you a psychological boost.
Keep drinking. Dehydration can be a real problem for half marathon runners. Half marathons have drinks stations at regular intervals: make use of them.
Think in small chunks. Focusing only on the mile ahead is easier than coming to grips with 4 or 6 at a time.
Take measured walking breaks if you need to. Its possible to run a sub 2 hour half marathon taking a one minute walking break every mile. It reduces the damage to your body (and mind!) but be sure to set a time limit on each walk.
Arrange precisely where you will meet your family or friends at the finish. Ideally arrange a phone number (eg relative) you can call if you miss your rendezvous.
Eat some easily digestible food (eg banana and some bread) within half an hour of the finish to help you recover. Spend the whole of the following week relaxing and congratulating yourself!
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Filed Under: Racing
